Ukraine launches nearly 300 drones against Russia overnight

Ukraine carried out a large-scale overnight drone attack on March 21, striking targets in Russia and Russian-occupied territories, according to Ukraine’s General Staff. Among the targets was an oil refinery in Saratov Oblast, where a key fuel storage tank was reportedly damaged. The facility, which processes crude oil into fuels used by the Russian military, has previously been targeted in similar strikes.

Ukrainian forces also hit military-related sites in occupied areas, including a command post of Russia’s elite Rubikon drone unit in Mariupol, as well as positions in parts of Donetsk Oblast and Zaporizhzhia Oblast. These operations are part of Kyiv’s broader strategy to disrupt Russia’s military infrastructure, particularly units involved in drone warfare and frontline logistics.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it intercepted more than 280 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, including areas around Moscow Oblast. Local officials in cities such as Saratov and Engels reported damage to residential buildings and injuries, while unverified reports indicated explosions near industrial facilities in other regions. The scale of the attack highlights Ukraine’s continued use of long-range drones to target strategic assets deep inside Russia.

Tankers carrying Russian oil are reportedly sailing to Cuba in violation of the US embargo

Samir Madani, co-founder of maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers.com, told the Financial Times that the Hong Kong-flagged tanker Sea Horse is carrying about 27,000 tons of gas and is expected to arrive in Cuba on March 23. Data from Kpler indicates the cargo is of Russian origin.

Madani also said the Russian-flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, transporting roughly 100,000 metric tons of crude oil, is likely to reach Cuba on April 4. According to the Financial Times, these shipments would mark the first oil and gas deliveries to Cuba in three months, highlighting renewed Russian energy flows to the island.

Kremlin officials are reportedly considering military means to escort Russian ships

Nikolai Patrushev, a senior aide to Vladimir Putin, said Russia is considering new measures to protect its commercial shipping, including installing “special protective equipment” and deploying mobile fire groups to defend vessels—likely against drone threats. In remarks to the Russian outlet Kommersant on March 18, Patrushev also suggested that Russian naval ships could be used to escort merchant convoys.

The proposal comes as the United States and European countries have stepped up efforts to seize or restrict Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers in regions including the North Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and waters near Europe. These actions are part of broader attempts to enforce sanctions and limit Russia’s ability to export energy.

Analysts say the potential introduction of naval escorts and onboard defensive measures would mark a significant escalation in how Russia protects its maritime trade, particularly as tensions rise over sanctions enforcement and security risks at sea.

Russia has earned money for war thanks to the easing of sanctions - Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia has increased its oil revenues in recent days following the easing of sanctions, helping fund its war against Ukraine. Writing on X, the Ukrainian president noted that over the past week Russia launched nearly 1,550 attack drones, more than 1,260 guided aerial bombs, and several missiles, underscoring the intensity of ongoing strikes.

Zelensky argued that higher oil sales are giving Moscow greater financial flexibility and a sense of impunity, allowing it to sustain military operations. He called for continued international pressure, emphasizing that sanctions must remain effective and that Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers should not be allowed to operate freely in European or global waters.

The comments follow a recent decision by the United States to temporarily ease restrictions on the purchase of Russian oil transported by sea for 30 days. Zelensky warned that such measures risk undermining efforts to limit the Kremlin’s war funding if not paired with stronger enforcement elsewhere.