Ukrainian Drones Impact Russian Oil Industry: Rising Fuel Prices and Infrastructure Destruction
Ukrainian unmanned systems, actively employed in the ongoing conflict against Russia, have inflicted significant damage on the Russian oil refining sector.
The strikes carried out by Ukrainian drones have caused a major crisis, affecting not only fuel production but also the country’s economy as a whole.
According to analytic sources, as of early autumn this year, Russia has lost around 13% of its oil processing capacity due to successful Ukrainian drone attacks.
Consequently, at least four major oil refineries have ceased operations, including some of the largest facilities such as the Samara Oil Refinery, as well as those owned by “Rosneft” in Rzhev and Novokuybyshevsk.
This has led to a sharp increase in fuel prices, with rises of 40-50% since the beginning of the year, placing additional pressure on Russia’s economy and its citizens.
It is also worth noting that ongoing repair difficulties and sanctions are hindering the restoration of these facilities.
The Minister of Energy, Sergei Civilyev, admitted that repair schedules are often delayed due to equipment shortages and sanctions restrictions.
In 2022, Russian refineries processed a minimum of 267 million tons of oil — the lowest in the past 12 years, intensifying the crisis in the industry.
An additional significant event was the Ukrainian drone attack on August 10, targeting the Saratov Oil Refinery — a key component of Russia’s fuel infrastructure.
The attack resulted in explosions and fires, temporarily halting the plant’s operations capable of refining up to 7 million tons of oil annually, thereby negatively impacting fuel supplies for occupying forces.
These developments clearly highlight the weakening of Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure, with long-term consequences for the country’s energy security.