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Ukrainian Drones Shut Moscow Refinery, Spark Nationwide Shortages

7/5/2026

44 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Ukrainian drones struck Moscow’s Kapotnya refinery on June 12 and June 18, forcing its shutdown through year-end.
The attacks cut refinery output to about 85,000 tonnes per day, 25,000 tonnes below summer demand.
Long queues now stretch miles in over half of Russia’s 83 regions as shortages spread.
A Gallup poll released June 30 found 60 % of Russians say conditions are worsening, 56 % say living standards have fallen, the worst in two decades.

History

Historical Context

In 1979, oil-worker strikes cut Iranian crude output by about 4.8 million barrels per day, slashing global supply and driving prices from $13 to $34 a barrel. A similar shock resurfaced in 2024 when Ukrainian drones damaged a Moscow refinery, curtailing Russian output and triggering nationwide fuel queues, underscoring the persistent vulnerability of centralized energy systems.

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Story summary

Ukrainian drones struck Moscow’s Kapotnya refinery on June 12 and June 18, forcing its shutdown through year-end.
The attacks cut refinery output to about 85,000 tonnes per day, 25,000 tonnes below summer demand.
Long queues now stretch miles in over half of Russia’s 83 regions as shortages spread.
A Gallup poll released June 30 found 60 % of Russians say conditions are worsening, 56 % say living standards have fallen, the worst in two decades.

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