Ukraine Strikes Key Russian Oil Refinery, Fuel Crisis Deepens

Russia's fuel crisis deepens as Ukraine's drone campaign targets key infrastructure.

The Slavneft-YANOS refinery in Yaroslavl Oblast, one of Russia's largest oil refineries with a capacity of approximately 15 million tonnes of crude per year, has been hit repeatedly by Ukrainian drones. The facility, located roughly 250 kilometers northeast of Moscow, has endured at least seven separate attacks since March this year.

The cumulative damage from the strikes has reduced Russia's overall refining capacity by around 25% and caused a domestic fuel supply shortfall of approximately 15%. This has triggered fuel rationing in over 50 regions across the country, including Moscow itself.

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the shortages during late June, describing them as 'obvious' while insisting the situation was not critical. However, the Kremlin's response has been a mix of regulatory improvisation and damage control.