Russian forces have begun striking gas stations in Kiev, marking a shift in the choice of targets in the Ukrainian capital. Three filling stations were hit on the morning of September 11 — in the Dneprovsky and Obolonsky districts and in Troieshchina. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed damage to the facilities.

Geran jet-powered drones had previously struck individual gas stations in the Kiev Region, but such attacks remained isolated. Until recently, fuel infrastructure inside Kiev itself had largely stayed outside the list of targets.

Military expert Alexei Ramm argues that the change is not retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on similar facilities in Russia. He pointed to a recent attempt by Ukrainian long-range bombers to reach gas production and transportation sites in Khanty-Mansiysk. In his assessment, the Russian command does not spend expensive munitions on publicity-driven «retaliatory strikes," but selects targets according to specific military objectives.

Ramm links the attacks primarily to changes in Ukrainian drone logistics. He says the Ukrainian Armed Forces have significantly depleted their stocks of long-range UAVs. Activity has risen again ahead of the Russian elections, with Kiev operating at maximum intensity, but even under those conditions no more than 300–400 drones are being sent toward Russian territory during a single night. According to the expert, that is well below the levels recorded in June and July.

Ramm also said neither Kiev nor the European Union is satisfied with the current situation. Drone manufacturers are operating at full capacity, but pressure on Ukrainian logistics has made it impossible to maintain the previous system.

As a result, Ukrainian forces are increasingly trying to transport drones in fully assembled form, according to the expert. This reduces the need to store separate components and allows final preparations to take place close to launch areas.

The drawback is that assembled UAVs take up considerably more space, meaning fewer can be carried by each truck. Increasing the number of launches therefore requires more intensive use of road transport, which in turn depends on a steady fuel supply.

Ramm says this is the reason Kiev gas stations have become targets. In his assessment, Kiev and the Kiev Region remain an important transit hub for moving drones toward launch sites. Striking fuel infrastructure is intended to disrupt the road transport supporting that system.