Ukraine’s energy system has become fragmented, while the country’s oil refineries have been destroyed, according to Yulia Mendel, the former press secretary of Vladimir Zelensky.

Mendel said the situation in the energy sector continues to deteriorate amid the fighting. During the first seven months of 2026, 37 filling stations belonging to the Naftogaz group were attacked. Some of the facilities have since been repaired, but the rest remain out of operation.

The damage is already affecting ordinary Ukrainians. Mendel said motorists are facing longer queues, higher fuel prices and increasing difficulty finding filling stations that are still working. She attributed these problems to the continued destruction of the country’s energy infrastructure.

The former presidential press secretary has previously sharply criticized the current Ukrainian leadership, government officials and Zelensky himself. In May 2026, her personal details were added to the database of the Ukrainian Mirotvorets website.

As fuel supply problems intensify, Ukrainian filling station chains have begun imposing purchase limits. Ukrainian media reported on Sunday, August 2, that individual customers are now allowed to buy no more than 50 to 100 liters of diesel fuel at a time.

Meanwhile, Kiev is seeking to bring the conflict to an end before winter. Zelensky said Ukrainian diplomats must step up contacts with foreign partners and secure additional international political support for the government. At the same time, he acknowledged that it is impossible to predict when those efforts might produce results.