Ukraine strikes key Russian oil terminal in massive drone attack

But Russian newspaper Moskovskij Komsomolets warned this week that petrol supplies were “near critical”, with drivers in far eastern Russia reporting kilometre-long queues, rationing and soaring prices.

Strikes have also hit the Druzhba pipeline, disrupting exports to Hungary and Slovakia – potentially cutting off a key source of foreign currency for Russia.

Moscow has intensified its missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy facilities over the summer as US-led efforts to reach a peace agreement faltered.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that there had been a “pause” in peace negotiations, blaming Ukraine’s European allies for “hindering” the process.

Thursday night’s attacks came ahead of the start of a major joint military exercise between Russia and ally Belarus on Friday, which is staged every four years.

But this time it is taking place just days after a number of Russian drones were shot down or fell on Poland, in what Warsaw called an unprecedented incursion into its airspace.