Moscow Oil Refinery Crippled for 6 Months After Ukraine Drone Strike Damage

Moscow's largest oil refinery is unlikely to resume production this year and will remain offline for at least six months following extensive damage from Ukrainian drone attacks.

The prolonged shutdown complicates Russian efforts to address growing fuel shortages across the country.

Damage and Operational Halt

The facility, located on the southern outskirts of the Russian capital, serves as the primary fuel supplier to the Moscow region.

It was forced to halt operations after being targeted twice this month by Ukrainian long-range drones.

Industry sources speaking to Reuters said that repairing the extensive damage will require at least half a year.

Gazprom Neft, the operator of the refinery, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the disruption.

Infrastructure Warfare and Supply Strains

The strikes are part of an intensified Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure with long-range drones.

In response, Russia has maintained missile strikes against energy and defense-related targets within and around Ukrainian cities.

The ongoing Ukrainian campaign has successfully knocked out a significant portion of Russia's oil refining capacity.

This reduction has triggered product shortages, escalating fuel prices, and extensive queues at filling stations across multiple regions.

Production Impact and Emergency Measures

The Moscow plant represents a critical component of domestic supply, having processed 11.6 million metric tons of oil in 2024.

This volume yielded 2.9 million tons of petrol and 3.2 million tons of diesel, according to the latest available data.

Faced with a mounting fuel crunch, Russian authorities are exploring emergency market interventions.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak indicated that the government is considering a ban on diesel exports to stabilize domestic supply.

Additionally, Moscow is considering fuel imports to alleviate deficits, particularly in Crimea.

Sales of gasoline to the general public have already been suspended in the region.