Unprecedented Crisis in Russian Oil Refineries Due to Ukrainian Drone Strikes
The extensive downtime at Russian oil refineries has caught many experts and the public off guard, following targeted Ukrainian drone attacks on key energy facilities across Russia.
Since August, Ukrainian UAVs have attacked more than twenty major oil processing plants, causing an unprecedented fuel shortage crisis in Russia’s energy market.
According to foreign and domestic sources, over 38% of primary refining capacity—approximately 338,000 tons per day—remains offline.
This has led to a 6% decrease in diesel and gasoline production in August, with an additional 18% reduction in September.
Russia has already experienced record-high levels of plant downtime, largely attributable to drone strikes.
Experts warn that repairs could take months, hindered by sanctions and the complexity of replacing Western equipment with Chinese alternatives.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to assert that it will hold onto Crimea and increases its air defense more than protecting its own refineries, indicating a strategic focus on territorial interests rather than infrastructure.
At least 20 regions, including Crimea and occupied territories, face fuel shortages amid rising fuel prices.
This situation underscores growing economic instability in Russia, further exacerbated by sanctions and internal crises, challenging the resilience of its oil industry and overall economy.