Russian forces conducted a series of drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of March 1 to 2.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 94 Shahed-type, Gerbera-type, Italmas-type, and other drones, of which roughly 70 were Shaheds, from the directions of Oryol City; Millerovo, Rostov Oblast; Shatalovo, Smolensk Oblast; Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai; and occupied Hvardiiske, Crimea.[95] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed 84 drones, that 10 drones struck four locations, and that downed debris fell on two locations as of 0800 local time. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces struck residential and civilian infrastructure in Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa oblasts.[96] The Ukrainian Energy Ministry and Ukrainian state energy operator Ukrenergo reported that Russian forces struck energy infrastructure in several oblasts, causing power outages in Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Sumy oblasts.[97] The Mykolaiv Oblast Administration reported that a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile hit an open area in Voznesensky Raion, Mykolaiv Oblast on the evening of March 1.[98]
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Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with 94 strike drones, including Shaheds, Gerbers, and Italmas types launched from Orel, Millerovo, Shataloво, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Crimea. Ukraine's air defense shot down or suppressed 84, with 10 drones hitting 4 locations
Ukrainian forces struck Russian oil and military infrastructure in Krasnodar Krai overnight on March 1 to 2. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on March 2 that Ukrainian forces struck the Sheskharis oil terminal and the naval base in Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai, causing a fire and damaging oil tankers at the terminal and an S-400 air defense system radar.[27] Sources in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) told Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne that the Ukrainian drone strikes struck warships, the guidance radar of an S-300 air defense system, a Pantsir-S2 air defense system, and six of the terminal’s seven oil tankers.[28] Geolocated footage published on March 1 shows a drone striking the Novorossiysk port and a fire at the oil terminal.[29] Russian officials confirmed that Ukrainian strikes caused a fire at the loading dock of the Sheskharis oil terminal.[30]
The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the February 27 to 28 Ukrainian strikes against the Albashneft Oil Refinery in Novominskaya, Krasnodar Krai destroyed four RVS-5000 tanks and damaged three RVS-2000 tanks, pipelines, and an underground tank.[31]
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Energy prices are rising across the globe. Oil prices are up, and gas prices are increasing because of Trump’s war.
x
🇺🇸👀 Gavin Newsom:
Trump spent more time talking about the curtains in his ballroom than about the four service members who died as a result of his operation.
Energy prices are rising across the globe. Oil prices are up, and gas prices are increasing because of Trump’s war.
Є
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) 2026-03-02T21:40:35.444Z
- Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to posture himself as a peacemaker and potential mediator between Iran and the Gulf States amid the ongoing US-Israeli operation against Iran.
- Iranian threats against vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz are causing significant spikes in global oil prices which, if sustained, could reverse over a year of declining Russian oil revenues.
- US allies and partners in the Middle East should learn from Ukraine’s years of experience defending against almost nightly large-scale Russian missile and drone strike packages, including some comprised in large part of Iranian-origin attack drones.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia will shift its long-range missile and drone strikes target set to include Ukrainian logistics and water infrastructure going into Spring 2026.
- Russian forces advanced in the Slovyansk and Pokrovsk directions.
https://t.co/pzIchnHXUe
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Operational information as of 22:00 on March 2, 2026, regarding the Russian invasion
In total, 136 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of this day. The defense forces continue to stop the enemy, destroy personnel, and deplete its combat potential by inflicting systematic fire damage.
The enemy carried out 56 air strikes, dropped 163 guided bombs, used 5,605 kamikaze drones, and carried out 2,691 shelling attacks on populated areas and the positions of our troops.
- In the North Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, the enemy carried out two air strikes today, dropped three aerial bombs, and carried out 105 shelling attacks on the positions of our troops and populated areas, including five using MLRS.
- In the South Slobozhanskyi direction, the enemy stormed the positions of our units in the Vovchanski Khutory area once.
- In the Kupianskyi direction, the enemy did not conduct any offensive actions.
- In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled seven attacks by the occupiers towards the settlements of Stavy, Drobysheve, Lyman, and in the Serednye area.
- In the Sloviansk direction, the enemy attempted to advance 11 times in the areas of the settlements of Platonivka, Zakytne, Riznykivka, and towards Ozerne.
- In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy did not conduct any offensive actions.
- In the Kostyantynivka direction, the occupiers stormed the positions of our defenders ten times today in the areas of the settlements of Pleshchiivka, Ivanopilya, Sofiivka, and towards Illinivka.
- The enemy carried out 21 attacks in the Pokrovsk direction. The occupiers attempted to advance in the areas of the settlements of Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetsk, and towards the settlements of Novopavlivka and Shevchenko. Two combat engagements are still ongoing.
According to preliminary estimates, 27 occupiers were eliminated and 18 wounded in this direction today. One artillery system, two motor vehicles, two pieces of special equipment, and a fuel depot were destroyed, while four artillery systems, seven motor vehicles, three pieces of special equipment, and 62 enemy shelters were damaged. A total of 156 UAVs of various types were destroyed or suppressed.
- In the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy attacked five times in the areas of the settlements of Ternove and Zlagoda. Ivanivka and Gavrylivka were subjected to enemy air strikes.
- In the Huliaipole direction, there were 37 attacks in the areas of Huliaipole, Zeleny, and in the direction of Tsvitkovy, Zaliznychny, Varvarivka, Sviatopetrivka, Huliaipole, and Staroukrainka. The enemy carried out air strikes on the areas of the settlements of Barvinivka, Vozdvyzhivka, Charivne, Dolynka, and Lyubytske. Four combat engagements are ongoing.
- In the Orikhiv direction, there was one combat engagement with the enemy near Plavni.
- In the Prydniprovsk direction, no enemy offensive actions were recorded, but the enemy launched an air strike on the settlement of Kozatske.
- In other directions, no significant changes in the situation have been recorded so far.
Let's defeat the enemy and bring our victory closer! Glory to Ukraine!
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Iranian threats against vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz are causing significant spikes in global oil prices, which if sustained, could reverse over a year of declining Russian oil revenues. Brent crude oil futures prices peaked at $82.37 per barrel on March 2 up from $73 at market close on February 27 just prior to joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran.[3] Brent crude oil futures price per barrel was trading at around $78 at time of writing.[4] Reported Iranian strikes against several US- and UK-linked oil tankers and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threats against vessels transiting through the Strait has led vessel traffic in the Persian Gulf to drop by at least 33 percent as of March 1.[5] Oil prices will likely continue to surge in coming days in response to the situation in the Middle East, with varying reports predicting a spike to prices between $90 to $100 per barrel.[6] Russia has historically relied on oil and gas revenues to fund its war in Ukraine, but revenues steadily fell throughout 2025, and Russian authorities are expecting oil and gas revenues to continue to fall in 2026.[7] Russia has had to resort to other means of generating revenue, such as selling gold reserves and raising the value added tax (VAT), to compensate for declining oil and gas revenues.[8] Russian business outlet Kommersant claimed on March 1 that Russia may also increase oil production following easing OPEC+ caps as of March 1 by three percent to 10.9 million barrels per day in 2026 after oil production fell to 9.1 million barrels per day in 2025, likely in part due to the impacts of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.[9] Sustained high oil prices could keep Russia economically afloat and allow Russia to fund its war in Ukraine in the medium term. It is unlikely, however, that Iran can successfully and indefinitely impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz long enough for Russia to reap long-term benefits from the current surge in oil prices.[10]
