Moscow refinery offline for six months after drone strikes

A major oil refinery in Moscow is expected to be offline for at least six months following two Ukrainian drone strikes in mid-June, dealing a significant blow to Russia's domestic fuel supply. Industry sources indicate the extensive damage to the Gazprom Neft-operated facility means it is highly unlikely to resume production before 2027.

The refinery, located just south of the capital, is the largest fuel supplier to the Moscow region. It was struck twice within a single week, with the attacks reportedly damaging both of its main processing units. One source stated the damage would take no less than half a year to repair. The facility processed 11.6 million metric tons of crude oil in 2024, producing 2.9 million tons of gasoline and 3.2 million tons of diesel, and normally supplies a large portion of the capital's fuel needs.

The extended shutdown exacerbates existing strains on Russia's fuel system, which has been grappling with shortages and price increases following a series of Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure this spring. Roughly ten regions have already implemented fuel rationing, with limits on purchases per vehicle. In Russian-occupied Crimea, authorities have...