Ukrainian drone strikes have crippled Russia's refining sector, cutting crude processing to its lowest level since 2005 after repeated attacks on major refineries across the country. The damage has triggered fuel shortages and export bans, forcing Moscow to halt exports of gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel while increasing fuel imports to meet domestic demand.
The disruption is tightening global diesel markets, driving refining margins and prices higher as importers seek alternative supplies from the U.S., India, and the Middle East.
Since March, Ukraine has systematically dismantled Russia’s refining system, driving crude processing to its lowest level in 21 years and forcing Moscow to ban exports of gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel.
Russian refineries processed an average of 3.91 million barrels of crude per day in early July, according to Energy Aspects data cited by Bloomberg. That was more than 1.4 million barrels per day below the previous year’s average and the lowest national processing rate since March 2005.
Ukraine has hit at least 24 of Russia’s 34 large refineries in roughly 50 attacks over the past 100 days.
The July 6 attack on the Omsk refinery removed the last geographic sanctuary inside Russia’s refining system.
