Reuters: Ukraine has knocked out 30% of Russia’s oil refining capacity
Ukraine resumed regular attacks on Russian oil refineries in late October, hitting plants that account for about 30% of Russia’s refining capacity, Reuters reported, citing two industry sources.
The attacks resumed after the collapse of an energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Over the past week, strikes disrupted operations at nine of Russia’s 35 largest refineries, including plants in Ryazan, Yaroslavl, and the Volga region. Reuters’ sources estimate that these plants account for about a third of Russia’s refining capacity.
Russia can process 930,000 metric tons of crude oil a day, but its refineries were processing only about 700,000 metric tons a day at the end of October, Reuters reported.
Ukrainian strikes on refineries are worsening domestic fuel shortages because Russia is also shipping diesel abroad under an export agreement with Trump, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, tankers carrying Russian diesel to the United States appear to have been unable to find buyers. Last week, two vessels — the Talisman and the Leruo — changed course. On Tuesday, another vessel bound for the United States, the Agioi Fanendes, was reported to have turned around.
Trump’s energy diplomacy
At Meduza, we are committed to transparency about our use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The story you’re reading was written by one of our living, breathing journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model configured to follow our strict editorial standards. This translation process is the result of extensive testing and refinements to ensure our English-language coverage is timely and accurate. A Meduza editor reviews every draft before publication.
If you find any errors in this translation, please contact us at reports@meduza.io.
To read Meduza’s exclusive content in English, please subscribe to our newsletter.