Russian refinery recruits air defense crews as Ukraine drone campaign intensifies

The Kuibyshev refinery in Samara is hiring Shilka and Berezhok operators to defend against Ukrainian drone strikes, reflecting the escalating long-range drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. This marks a notable shift to civilian-managed defense recruitment, indicating sustained pressure on Russian refining capacity. The move underscores the strategic vulnerability of Russian energy assets and the ongoing attritional nature of the conflict.