Oil refinery in Russia faces substantial limitations following a drone strike attack
The Ryazan oil refinery, a crucial facility belonging to the Russian state corporation Rosneft, is currently functioning at only 48% of its normal capacity following a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on August 2, 2025.
Located in Russia, Ryazan is Rosneft's largest refinery and one of the five biggest in the country. In 2024, it processed approximately 13.1 million tons of crude oil and supplied fuel, particularly to the Moscow region. The disruption is significant as it forms part of a broader Ukrainian campaign targeting Russia's energy infrastructure.
The strike has exacerbated already strained conditions in the Russian gasoline market, which was grappling with high prices and low inventories even before the attack. The refinery disruption is likely to worsen fuel shortages, force Russia to scale back exports, and complicate scheduled maintenance, increasing the risks of further breakdowns. Additionally, the damage may lead to more crude oil storage or increased crude exports, potentially putting downward pressure on Russian crude prices.
The attack on the Ryazan refinery is not an isolated incident. Other targets in Russia's energy sector, such as the Novokuibyshevsk refinery (now fully shut down) and various chemical facilities, have also been under attack. This campaign against Russia's energy infrastructure is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy aimed at weakening Moscow's economic resources.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands has announced a new weapons package worth around 500 million euros for Ukraine, including additional US weapons and ammunition for the Patriot air defense systems. Despite this, Ukrainians remain skeptical about diplomatic attempts to resolve the conflict.
Elsewhere, Indian officials have rejected US and EU criticism of its Russian oil imports, stating they will take all necessary measures to protect their national interests and economic security. In the military front, Russian forces in the Kherson region have temporarily reduced attacks to regroup for more active attacks on islands in the Dnipro River.
The escalating tensions between Russia and the West have also reached new heights. Vladimir Putin has threatened that Russia will respond "mirror-like" to the planned US stationing of missiles in Germany in 2026. The US has officially ceased adherence to the treaty on the abandonment of land-based nuclear short- and medium-range missiles, leading Russia to also cease adherence. The weapons for this response are said to be almost ready.
In a separate incident, a Russian nuclear submarine base in Kamchatka appears to have been damaged following a strong earthquake last week, according to a report by The New York Times. Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack near Vovchansk in the eastern Kharkiv region.
Amidst these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj visited the front in the Kharkiv region and the city of Kharkiv. Meanwhile, US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg is expected to visit Ukraine later in the week. As the conflict continues, both sides seem determined to hold their ground, with potential repercussions for global energy markets and geopolitical stability.
[1] [https://www.rosneft.com/about/production/refining/ryazan/] [2] [https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/ukraine-drone-attacks-hit-ryazan-oil-refinery-sources-2021-08-03/] [3] [https://www.ft.com/content/32659774-f218-4285-b235-461a2e69c97f] [4] [https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/ukraine-drone-attacks-hit-ryazan-oil-refinery-sources-2021-08-03/] [5] [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-03/ukraine-drone-attacks-hit-ryazan-oil-refinery-sources-say]
The escalating conflict between Ukraine and Russia has led to targeted attacks on critical infrastructure, such as the Ryazan oil refinery, a major facility owned by Rosneft. This ongoing war-and-conflicts, part of a broader Ukrainian strategy intended to weaken Moscow's economic resources, has significant implications for politics and general-news, as evidenced by the strained conditions in Russia's gasoline market and the possible repercussions for global energy markets.
