Key facts
- Ukraine launched a drone attack on Russia's Novoshakhtinsk refinery in the Rostov region.
- The refinery was taken offline due to damage from the drone strike.
- Novoshakhtinsk refinery has a capacity of 110,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
- Ukraine's attacks aim to cripple Russian refining capacity, fuel supply, and export revenues.
- Russia has a ban on diesel exports in place, initially introduced in July.
- The ban on diesel exports is likely to be extended beyond September 30.
A Ukrainian drone attack on Friday forced the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Russia's southern Rostov region offline, continuing Ukraine's campaign to disrupt Russian energy infrastructure and export revenues. Regional governor Yury Slyusar announced the attack via Telegram, stating the refinery was damaged and halted operations.
The Novoshakhtinsk refinery has the capacity to process 110,000 barrels of crude oil per day. This incident is part of a broader Ukrainian effort to cripple Russia's refining capacity, fuel supply, and export revenues. Russia has been experiencing a gasoline and diesel shortage since the spring, exacerbated by intensified Ukrainian drone attacks on its refineries.
In response to these pressures, Russia initially introduced a ban on diesel exports in July and is expected to extend it beyond September 30. This ban, coupled with ongoing refinery maintenance and the need to rebuild fuel reserves for winter, has contributed to tightening global middle distillate markets, alongside the crisis in the Middle East.