Full Breakdown
Moscow Oil Refinery Halts Operations After Ukrainian Drone Attack
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Attack on Moscow Refinery
On September 20, a Ukrainian drone strike ignited fires at the two primary crude-distillation units of the Moscow Oil Refinery, a major facility owned by Gazprom Neft. The blaze forced an immediate shutdown of crude-oil processing. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed on Telegram that an industrial facility on the refinery’s premises was damaged. Industry sources said the AV-6 unit (capacity 21,400 metric tons per day, 53 % of total capacity) and the EURO+ complex (18,800 tons per day, 47 %) both caught fire. Repairs are expected to take “several weeks” before normal operations can resume.
Background & Context
The attack follows a series of long-range drone operations by Ukraine against Russian energy infrastructure since the war began in February 2022. Russian air-defence forces reported intercepting more than 1,600 drones nationwide since September 19, including roughly 450 aimed at Moscow. The Moscow refinery has been a recurrent target, and the latest strike adds to broader disruptions that have caused fuel shortages and higher prices across Russia.
Data & Statistics
- AV-6 unit capacity: 21,400 metric tons per day (53 % of refinery output).
- EURO+ complex capacity: 18,800 metric tons per day (remaining 47 %).
- 2024 throughput: 11.6 million tons of crude oil (? 230,000 barrels per day).
- 2024 product output: 2.9 million tons of gasoline, 3.2 million tons of diesel, and 1.3 million tons of bitumen.
- Market impact: No fuel from the refinery has been offered for sale on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange since September 21.
Official Statements & Responses
- Sergei Sobyanin (Mayor of Moscow): Reported on Telegram that an industrial facility at the refinery was damaged during the drone raid.
- Volodymyr Zelensky (President of Ukraine): Stated that Ukrainian forces struck a “key Russian oil industry facility” in the Moscow region and a logistics facility during the overnight attack on September 20.
- Russian defence officials: Said air-defence units intercepted thousands of drones across the country, though they did not disclose specific figures for the Moscow region.
- Local authorities (Ramenskoye district): Reported three fatalities in the Moscow region—two during the early-morning attacks and one later in hospital—and the evacuation of about 400 residents, including 70 children, from a damaged apartment building.
Criticism & Opposition
- Donald Trump (President of the United States): “Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia.” — The comment reflects criticism of Ukraine’s drone campaign against Russian refineries, arguing it exacerbates global diesel shortages.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Casualty figures: Only the Egyptoil-gas source mentions three deaths and the evacuation of 400 people; other outlets do not provide casualty data.
- Extent of damage: While Sobyanin confirmed damage to an industrial facility, the precise impact on refinery equipment and the timeline for full restoration remain undisclosed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Mr. Zelensky has to do one thing. He has to stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia,” — Donald Trump, president
What’s Next
Industry sources indicate that restoring the AV-6 and EURO+ units could require “several weeks.” Until repairs are completed, the refinery will remain offline, and its output will continue to be absent from the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange.