Ukrainian drones knock out up to 40% of Russia's oil refining capacity – FT
Ukrainian drone strikes may have knocked out between 20% and 40% of Russia's oil refining capacity.
Source: Financial Times, citing analyst estimates
Details: In June, Russia was processing an average of 4.1 million barrels of oil per day, 28% below the five-year average and 35% below nominal capacity.
Ukraine significantly intensified strikes on Russian oil infrastructure in May. Since then, ten of Russia's largest refineries have been attacked, including the Omsk refinery 2,500 km from the front line, which accounts for around 7% of the country's refining capacity.
The fuel shortage is already affecting 50 million Russians, or 35% of the population, according to the FT's analysis. By 8 July, local authorities or retailers had introduced fuel sales restrictions in the majority of Russian regions.
By 25 June, almost 50 Russian regions had introduced some form of fuel sales restriction, while long queues at petrol stations had spread across the country. Crimea has an official state of emergency in place, with petrol sold only via electronic vouchers.
Background:
- On the night of 7-8 July, Ukraine's drone forces struck the key electricity receiving facility of the Kuban-Crimea power bridge, five electricity substations, a training ground and three Russian air defence radar systems.
- Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck another nine tankers from Russia's shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov on the night of 7-8 July.
- On the night of 6-7 July, the Magyar's Birds unit said it had struck eight tankers from Russia's shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov.
- The Omsk refinery, Russia's largest, halted operations following a Ukrainian drone attack.
Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.