Oil production at Russia's Ryazan refinery reduced by half, and the Novokuybyshevsk facility temporarily halted operations following a drone assault, according to Reuters.
Breaking News: Drone Strike Cripples Russia's Largest Oil Refinery
A series of drone attacks on multiple oil refineries in Russia, including the Ryazan refinery, has caused significant disruption to the country's fuel production and export revenues.
The Ryazan refinery, operated by Rosneft, is one of Russia's largest and processes around 13.1 million tonnes of crude oil annually. Following a drone strike on the 2nd of August, two of its three main refining units, CDU-3 and CDU-4, have been shut down. The CDU-4 unit, with a capacity of 11,400 tonnes per day, and CDU-3, with a capacity of 8,600 tonnes per day, have been severely damaged, leaving only the CDU-6 unit operational. The CDU-6 unit has a daily output of 23,200 tonnes.
The Ryazan refinery was responsible for producing 2.3 million tonnes of petrol, 3.4 million tonnes of diesel, and 4.2 million tonnes of fuel oil last year. The exact production figures for the Novokuybyshevsk refinery, another target of the drone strikes, are not available.
The attacks, part of a broader campaign including attacks on multiple oil-related sites and military infrastructure, have resulted in an estimated loss of up to 8% of Russia’s total refining output. This represents a substantial reduction in domestic refining capacity, as Russia processes around 267 million tons of crude per year.
In response, Russia plans to compensate by increasing crude oil exports through Western ports by approximately 200,000 barrels per day. This move will raise exports to nearly 2 million barrels daily in August 2025, up from an earlier plan of 1.77 million barrels per day.
The disruption to refining capacity not only affects Russia’s fuel supply for military and civilian use but also impacts its export revenues, which are critical for funding the Russian war effort in Ukraine.
This strategic attack on Russian oil infrastructure underscores the impact of Ukraine's long-range drone attacks. The exact cause of the explosions and the identity of the entities responsible for the drone strikes are not specified in the provided information.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has not yet made a public statement regarding the drone strikes on the Novokuybyshevsk refinery. The location of the radio factories and military airfield targeted in the drone strikes is also not specified.
Sources: [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-claims-drone-strike-russian-oil-refinery-2025-08-02/ [2] https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-says-it-used-drones-to-attack-russian-oil-refinery-11660336513 [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58208688 [4] https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-to-boost-crude-exports-compensate-for-refinery-outages-2025-08-05/ [5] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-05/russia-s-oil-refinery-outages-could-force-it-to-boost-exports-to-record-highs
As a result of the drone attacks on multiple oil refineries in Russia, including the Ryazan refinery, the disruption to the country's fuel production and export revenues could potentially affect both the domestic economy and healthcare sector, with an estimated loss of up to 8% of Russia’s total refining output impacting the supply of fuel for military and civilian use. On the other hand, the increased crude oil exports through Western ports to offset the refining capacity loss might boost the sports industry, particularly those associated with sailing and maritime transport.
