From Ust-Luga to Tuapse: how Ukrainian drones cripple fuel exports from Russian refineries

It is worth noting that the ban on gasoline exports from Russia for fuel producers was first introduced at the end of July to support the domestic market and was then extended through September.

According to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, 13 oil refineries in Russia with a total capacity of 119.2 million tons per year have gone out of service. As a result, fuel shortages are observed in 20 regions of Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. At the same time, the cost of petroleum products is rising across the entire country.

In just three summer months this year, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces struck the Novokuibyshevsk refinery, the Volgograd refinery, the Syzran refinery, Novatek-Ust-Luga LLC, the Ryazan refinery, Kuibyshev refinery JSC, and the Krasnodar refinery.

And already in September, units of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces struck the Saratov oil refinery in Russia.

The Saratov refinery specializes in producing gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, as well as various grades of bitumen, vacuum gas oil, technical sulfur, and more. In total, it produces over 20 types of petroleum products.

The Saratov refinery accounted for about 2.5% of Russia’s total refining capacity. But most importantly, this refinery was affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of the occupying state. By striking the Saratov refinery, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces significantly reduced Russia’s ability to supply fuel and lubricants to its army units on the front line.

Another key point is that the Special Operations Forces also struck a major piece of trunk transport infrastructure — the Samara line production dispatching station. This is an oil pipeline facility where high- and low-sulfur crude oil from various Russian fields is blended together. The result is the so-called Urals export blend, which accounts for up to 50% of the occupying state’s total oil exports. Strikes on this station have effectively disrupted Russia’s ability to produce, pump, and ship petroleum products to end consumers.

Attention should also be paid to the consequences of Ukrainian drone strikes on other Russian oil industry facilities.

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces struck the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in Samara region, which accounts for 3% of Russia’s total refining capacity.

Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, summarized the results of operations against Russian refineries and pipelines.

According to him, Ukrainian drones struck at least four major facilities inside Russia:

• August 14 – Lukoil Volgograd refinery
• August 18 – Druzhba oil pumping station in Nikolskoye, Tambov region
• August 20 – Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Rostov region
• August 21 – Druzhba pipeline station in Unecha, Bryansk region

As a result of these attacks, Russia’s Ust-Luga oil export terminal will operate at about 350,000 barrels per day in September — roughly half of its usual capacity — due to pipeline infrastructure damage from Ukrainian drone strikes.

On August 10, during a special operation by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, the Lukoil-Ukhta refinery in the Komi Republic was also hit.

Notably, this facility is located more than 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s border. The targeted plant participates in supplying fuel and lubricants to the Russian army.

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On September 24, naval drones of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate attacked Russian ports in Novorossiysk and Tuapse. As a result, the operation paralyzed the operation of Transneft’s oil-loading complex and the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal near Novorossiysk.

According to Ukrainian military intelligence, Russia was loading oil onto its tankers there — including ships from its so-called “shadow fleet.” These oil transshipment points can export a combined 2 million barrels of crude per day. In addition, naval drones of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate blew up an oil-loading pier at one of Russia’s largest terminals in Tuapse.

On the night of September 26, units of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, in coordination with other Defense Forces, struck the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the goal of the operation was to reduce the enemy’s offensive potential and complicate the supply of fuel and ammunition to Russian military units.

The reduction in supplies of fuel and lubricants to the front is paralyzing Russia’s war machine in Ukraine.

The pace of Russian offensive operations is slowing, which Ukraine’s Defense Forces are exploiting with what is called “active defense.” When Russian advances stall, Ukraine delivers counterstrikes. As a result, seven settlements have been liberated on the Dobropillia axis alone. 

This is the true cost of drone strikes by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, Unmanned Systems Forces, and the Main Intelligence Directorate against Russia’s oil refineries.

Special for Espreso

About the author: Dmytro Sniehyriov, military expert, co-chair of the civic initiative Prava Sprava.

The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by blog authors.