Key facts
- A Ukrainian drone attack damaged a primary refining facility at Gazprom Neft's Moscow refinery.
- Operations at the refinery were halted following the drone strike.
- The damaged facility accounts for 53% of the plant's capacity.
- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed damage to a facility at the refinery.
- Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries have intensified, impacting domestic fuel markets.
- Oil producer Tatneft announced nationwide restrictions on fuel purchases at its stations.
A Ukrainian drone attack on Tuesday damaged a primary refining facility at Gazprom Neft's Moscow refinery, the largest fuel supplier to the Moscow region, leading to a halt in operations according to industry sources. The strike impacted a unit responsible for 53% of the plant's capacity. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed damage to a facility, while emergency services reported extinguishing a fire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed responsibility for the strike, which he said was launched from 500 km away, framing it as a response to Russian attacks.
This incident is part of Ukraine's intensified campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, with attacks on refineries doubling since the start of 2026, causing shutdowns and reduced fuel output. The cumulative effect is straining Russia's domestic fuel market, with regions reporting localized supply issues and the energy ministry assuring farmers of sufficient fuel for the summer harvest. In a related development, oil producer Tatneft announced nationwide restrictions on fuel purchases at its stations, limiting sales and accepting only cash in some locations, following a drone attack on its refinery in Tatarstan last week.
The Moscow plant processed 11.6 million metric tons of oil in 2024, producing 2.9 million tons of petrol and 3.2 million tons of diesel. Long lines at gas stations in Russian-controlled Crimea and other regions highlight the domestic impact of these strikes, with restrictions on fuel sales already imposed in Crimea to preserve stocks.