Russian seaborne crude oil exports have climbed to their highest levels since the start of the war in Ukraine as repeated Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries have reduced domestic processing capacity and left more crude available for shipment abroad, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing tanker-tracking data.
Average crude exports since the beginning of 2026 have reached 3.46 million barrels per day (bpd), about 120,000 bpd higher than in 2025 and above the previous post-invasion annual high of 3.36 million bpd recorded in 2023, according to Bloomberg's calculations.
Seaborne exports averaged 3.64 million bpd in the four weeks to May 31, Bloomberg reported, citing tanker movement data.
Ukraine intensified attacks on Russian refineries in May, striking facilities across the country as part of a campaign aimed at reducing fuel supplies available to the Russian military and weakening a key source of state revenue.
The strikes helped push Russian refinery throughput to its lowest level since 2009, according to industry data cited by Bloomberg. Moscow has expanded restrictions on fuel exports in response, banning overseas sales of jet fuel in addition to earlier limits on gasoline exports.
