Since the beginning of the year, Ukrainian drones have struck at least 16 Russian oil refineries, leading to reduced refining capacity, lower exports of petroleum products, and additional pressure on Russia’s oil revenues.
This was reported by Reuters, as cited by Ukrinform.
According to the outlet’s calculations, Ukrainian drones attacked 16 Russian refineries between January and May this year (some of them more than once), taking offline refining capacity of about 700,000 barrels per day. In 2025, only eight refineries were attacked during the same period.
In March, the capacity of the affected primary refining units reached nearly 1 million barrels per day, and again exceeded that level in April.
The attacks, which also affected pipelines and storage facilities, have led to a reduction in Russia’s oil output – the world’s third largest after the United States and Saudi Arabia – intensifying pressure on Moscow’s federal budget, where oil and gas taxes account for roughly a quarter of revenues.
