Ukrainian drone strikes hit 36% of Russia's oil refining capacity, manufacturer says

Ukrainian drone strikes knocked out 36% of Russia's total oil refining capacity in less than two weeks, hitting at least nine major refineries between Oct. 30 and Nov. 11, the defense manufacturer Fire Point reported on Nov. 12.

The combined annual processing capacity of the Russian plants hit over the 13 days exceeds 120 million metric tons of crude oil, accounting for 36% of Russia's entire domestic oil refining capacity, Fire Point said. The manufacturer said enterprises accounting for "more than a third of Russia's total oil refining capacity" came under strike.

On Nov. 6, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that in direct retaliation for Russian strikes against Ukraine's energy grid, Kyiv would press forward with its campaign targeting Russia's oil refining infrastructure.

Long-range drones struck the Saratov Oil Refinery on Nov. 7. Two days later, on Nov. 9, Ukrainian forces hit Russia's second-largest processing facility, the Kirishi Oil Refinery in Leningrad Oblast. On Nov. 11, strike drones hit oil export terminals at the Baltic port of Ust-Luga, a vital maritime hub for Russian crude shipments.

According to Reuters, Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries since late October 2026 have reduced Russia's operational refining capacity by roughly 30% and triggered acute fuel shortages across at least six Russian oblasts.