Ukraine has ramped up its military operations against Russia, particularly focusing on drone strikes in and around Moscow. On July 12, local authorities reported that approximately 45 Ukrainian drones were destroyed by Russian air defense systems near the capital. The mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, confirmed that most of these drones were intercepted before reaching the city, although several managed to get closer and were neutralized near Syzran, a city located over 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Images and videos shared on social media depicted thick smoke and flames rising from the Syzran oil refinery, which is a crucial facility for the Russian military, processing around 9 million tons of crude oil annually. This refinery supplies fuel to the Russian Air Force and military units in central and southern Russia, as well as exporting petroleum products overseas.

The specific type of weaponry used in the attack on the refinery has not been confirmed, but Ukraine has increasingly employed domestically produced long-range drones to target Russian oil infrastructure. Ukrainian officials consider these energy facilities legitimate military targets, arguing that they provide fuel and financial resources for Russia's military operations.

In late June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a 40-day campaign aimed at pressuring Russia, which includes long-range strikes and covert operations intended to weaken the Russian economy. Following this declaration, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure and maritime transport believed to be carrying oil, as well as various civilian locations.

In response, Russia has accused Ukraine of escalating attacks to distract from its own losses on the battlefield, asserting that it has retaliated with long-range strikes. The Russian military claims it does not target civilian facilities in Ukraine, focusing instead on dual-use and military industrial sites. Most of Russia's attacks have been directed at Kyiv, targeting military factories, drone assembly facilities, and weapons depots.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has emphasized its capability to penetrate any air defense systems provided to Ukraine by Western nations and asserted that it can accurately strike any target across Ukraine. They have particularly highlighted ongoing attacks on Ukrainian port facilities and vessels transporting weapons and military equipment.