- Ukraine’s drone attacks have disrupted over one-third of Russia’s major oil refineries, reducing domestic crude processing.
- Russia’s refineries are processing 484,000 barrels per day less than July, a sharper-than-normal seasonal decline.
- To compensate, seaborne crude exports have surged by approximately 435,000 barrels per day.
- Key export ports—Primorsk, Ust-Luga, and Novorossiysk—are operating near maximum shipping capacity.
Ukraine’s intensified drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have disrupted domestic fuel production and pushed Moscow to increase crude exports. Since August, the frequency of attacks has accelerated, leading to reduced refinery operations and higher seaborne shipments. According to a report published by gCaptain, Russia’s crude processing rates have declined significantly as key ports approach their shipping capacity limits.
Crude Processing Declines as Exports Surge
Data from OilX shows that Russia’s refineries are set to process around 4.86 million barrels of crude oil per day in October — a decrease of nearly half a million barrels from July. While seasonal slowdowns are typical, this year’s drop has been sharper due to refinery disruptions caused by drone strikes. To offset reduced domestic output, Russia has ramped up crude exports, with tanker data indicating an increase of about 435,000 barrels per day over the same period. Major ports such as Primorsk, Ust-Luga, and Novorossiysk are now operating close to their peak levels, even as continued attacks challenge efforts to sustain consistent oil flows.
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Source: gCaptain
