Ukraine continues drone strikes on Russian refineries to disrupt oil production

Russia: Russia is the world's largest country and one of the leading global producers of oil and refined petroleum products, with its federal government centered in Moscow. It has faced repeated Ukrainian drone attacks on its refineries, prompting government acknowledgments of fuel supply challenges and protective measures for energy facilities. Ukraine: Ukraine is a sovereign country in Eastern Europe engaged in an ongoing defensive conflict with Russia. It has conducted a sustained campaign of long-range drone strikes targeting Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure to disrupt fuel supplies that support the war effort. • Russia’s Syzran and Saratov refineries halted crude processing after Ukrainian drone attacks in September 2026. • A September 20 strike damaged Moscow’s Gazprom Neft refinery; both primary distillation units reportedly caught fire and repairs may take weeks. • Ukraine also reported strikes on refineries in Ufa, Samara, Ryazan, Perm, and Tatarstan. • Russia’s refining outages have contributed to fuel shortages, higher prices, and queues at filling stations in several regions. • The IEA cut its 2026 Russian crude-output forecast to 8.7 million barrels per day and said production had already fallen to 8.36 million barrels per day in August. • The campaign targets Russia’s ability to convert crude into gasoline and diesel, while potentially reducing oil-product export capacity.