Ukraine targets the last two refineries supplying fuel to Moscow - Media
Photo: gasoline shortages in Moscow worsen amid new strikes on oil refineries (Getty Images)
Ukraine has disabled the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region, one of the main suppliers of fuel to Moscow, Agentstvo.Novosti reports.
Impact of the attack on the Kstovo refinery
According to media reports, Ukrainian drones attacked the facility in the city of Kstovo overnight.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a fire broke out at the refinery. Preliminary reports indicate damage to the AVT-6 primary crude oil processing unit, which accounted for a quarter of the plant's total capacity.
Russian authorities said that 30 drones were involved in the attack and claimed the damage was "non-critical." However, the refinery has already suspended oil processing operations.
The refinery is among the ten largest in Russia, producing around 5 million tonnes of gasoline and more than 5 million tonnes of diesel fuel annually.
How refinery strikes are draining Moscow's fuel supplies
The Kstovo refinery is one of four key refineries supplying fuel to Russia's capital region.
Most of them have now been crippled by successful Ukrainian strikes:
- Ryazan refinery — suspended operations after a strike in May. No restart has been reported so far.
- Moscow refinery (Kapotnya) — supplied up to 40% of the capital's fuel needs. It halted processing after two attacks in June and is unlikely to resume operations before the end of the year.
- Yaroslavl refinery — continues operating for now but is regularly targeted by drone attacks.
The only remaining alternative for Moscow is more expensive fuel supplies from Belarus. Dictator Alexander Lukashenko has already offered assistance to the Russian region, but Belarusian petroleum products would significantly increase fuel prices at gas stations.
Fuel crisis in Russia
The latest wave of successful Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries has significantly disrupted Russia's domestic fuel market. Shortages of gasoline and diesel fuel are worsening by the day, forcing the Kremlin to seek emergency measures to contain a large-scale economic crisis.
The situation has become so severe that even Russia's top leadership has been compelled to acknowledge serious problems with the country's energy infrastructure in the face of mounting evidence.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that gasoline prices in Russia were hitting new record highs, while long lines at gas stations were rapidly spreading across much of the country.
Moreover, amid the systematic damage to refineries, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially acknowledged a "certain fuel shortage." At the same time, fuel reserves in occupied Crimea have reportedly dwindled to just a few days' supply.
