Ukraine Destroys 1,200-Mile-Distant Omsk Refinery, Cutting Russia Capacity to 3.8 Million Barrels a Day
Updated
Updated · Foreign Policy · Jul 13
Ukraine Destroys 1,200-Mile-Distant Omsk Refinery, Cutting Russia Capacity to 3.8 Million Barrels a Day
3 articles · Updated · Foreign Policy · Jul 13
Summary
Russia’s refining system has lost about one-fifth of its capacity, dropping from 5.2 million barrels a day before the war to 3.8 million after Ukraine’s intensified strikes on refineries, depots, ports and fuel tanks.
Omsk — Russia’s largest refinery, more than 1,200 miles from Ukraine — was destroyed last week, underscoring the longer reach and more precise targeting of hard-to-repair units such as hydrocrackers.
June seaborne oil-product loadings fell to their lowest level on record, compounding the damage as Russia struggles not only to refine fuel but also to export higher-value products.
Long gas lines and fuel rationing are now appearing inside Russia, while analysts say the spring offensive has turned the war into a nationwide economic crisis rather than a localized battlefield threat.
Kyiv can now make as many as 8 million drones a year, raising pressure on the Kremlin as Ukraine’s energy strikes increasingly do what years of sanctions have not.
Russia's oil output is plummeting after constant attacks. Are global markets prepared for the supply shock?
As drone strikes push Russia's oil industry toward collapse, is its war economy now on borrowed time?
Ukrainian Drone Campaign Drives Russian Oil Exports to Record Highs but Revenues Plummet in 2026
Overview
As of July 2026, Russia's oil industry is under severe pressure due to sustained Ukrainian drone strikes on its energy infrastructure and a global drop in oil prices. These attacks have caused major disruptions to Russia's refining capacity, leading to widespread domestic fuel shortages and long queues at filling stations, with security forces deployed to maintain order. While Russia's crude oil exports have reached record highs, the inability to refine crude oil at home threatens both domestic supply and global markets for gasoline and diesel. The combined effects of drone strikes and falling prices have created a deep crisis for Russia's oil sector.