Ukrainian Drones Strike Russia's Astrakhan Gas Processing Plant in Deep Campaign — Russia Claims 286 Drones Downed Overnight

Ukraine's ongoing deep-strike campaign against Russian energy infrastructure extended to the Astrakhan gas processing plant on May 13, 2026. Russia's Ministry of Defense reported that 286 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over Russian regions overnight; despite the claimed shootdowns, Ukrainian strike drones penetrated defenses and struck the Astrakhan facility in southern Russia near the Caspian Sea. The Astrakhan strike is part of Ukraine's sustained 2026 campaign hitting Russian oil refineries, gas processing plants, and energy infrastructure at strategic depth — Ukraine had previously struck gas facilities in Russia's Orenburg region (~1,500+ km from the front lines), the Kirishi refinery in Leningrad Oblast, and the Tuapse refinery in Krasnodar (four times). Ukraine's 2026 deep-strike energy campaign has cost Russia an estimated $7B+ in energy sector losses and pushed Russian refinery utilization to a 16-year low. The strategy aims to degrade Russia's revenue base for the war effort and its capacity to manufacture weapons and projectiles.