Full Breakdown
Ryazan Oil Refinery Suspended After Ukrainian Drone Strike
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: September 6 Drone Attack Halts Operations
On September 6, a Ukrainian drone strike hit the Rosneft-owned Ryazan oil refinery, forcing the shutdown of its main processing units. The AVT-6 (also referred to as CDU-6) caught fire and was taken offline, along with the AVT-4 (CDU-4). A third primary unit, AVT-3, has been under maintenance since mid-May and was not affected by the strike. Industry sources told Reuters that repairs to the damaged units could require several weeks.
Background & Context: Prior Strikes and Escalation
The Ryazan facility, which supplies fuel to Moscow, has been targeted repeatedly this year. It suffered drone attacks on May 15 and July 29, each prompting temporary suspensions of production for two to three weeks. According to the same sources, Ukraine began ramping up attacks on Russian oil refineries and related supply lines in the spring, aiming to reduce Kremlin revenue from elevated oil prices.
Data & Statistics: Capacity and Production Impact
- AVT-6 can refine 8 million metric tons of crude oil annually (? 160,000 barrels per day), representing roughly half of the refinery’s capacity.
- AVT-4 processes 4 million metric tons per year.
- In 2024, the Ryazan refinery handled 13.1 million metric tons of crude, about 4.9 % of Russia’s total refining volume.
- Annual output includes 2.2 million metric tons of gasoline, 3.4 million metric tons of diesel, and 4.3 million metric tons of fuel oil.
Official Statements & Responses
Rosneft declined to comment when Reuters sought a response to the September 6 attack. Ukrainian officials, as reported by Ukrinform, said the Defense Forces had struck oil refineries in three Russian regions, as well as a storage facility and drone launch sites in the Kursk region, as part of the broader campaign.
Impact on Russian Fuel Supply
With the shutdown of units that together account for about half of the plant’s capacity, the refinery’s ability to supply Moscow with gasoline and diesel is temporarily reduced. Industry sources estimate that full restoration may take several weeks, extending the disruption already experienced after the May and July attacks. The repeated targeting of Ryazan underscores the vulnerability of Russia’s domestic fuel infrastructure amid the ongoing conflict.
