Ukraine has claimed that its long-range military strikes have paralyzed over half of Russia’s refining capacity, weakening Moscow’s ability to supply frontline troops with resources.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday evening (October 4) that recent attacks on refineries in multiple cities, including Moscow, have resulted in a 51% loss of Russia’s refining capacity. This claim has not been independently verified.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine along a roughly 1200-kilometer front has been at a stalemate, with both sides heavily relying on aerial bombardments. Ukraine has launched multiple attacks on refineries from Moscow to Siberia, leading to a severe fuel crisis earlier in the year in Russia and forcing authorities to impose restrictions on gasoline sales.
Russian officials have not disclosed specific data regarding the damage to the country’s petroleum infrastructure. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on October 1 that the losses from these attacks equate to around 1% of Russia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Ukrainian Minister of Defense Yevhenii Khmara stated that assessments by Ukrainian intelligence, the General Staff, and analysts at the Ministry of Defense indicate that Russia has suffered a 51% blow to its refining capacity. He said, “Our deep strikes will continue to bring the war into Russian territory.”
Russia was originally the world’s third-largest producer of refined oil products. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that out of Russia’s 32 refineries, some have been attacked up to 15 times since the start of the conflict. Over the past few months, almost every three days, a refinery has been hit, leading to a cycle of “damage-emergency repairs.” The IEA stated that Russia’s diesel production has dropped by approximately 30%, with some gas stations even experiencing 40-hour queues for fuel.
Russian forces are also continuing to attack Ukraine. Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv in Ukraine, reported that on Monday (October 5), Russian troops used a guided aerial bomb to strike the city, resulting in at least 3 deaths and 39 injuries. He stated on Telegram, “There may still be people trapped under the ruins of the buildings hit in the attack, and rescue efforts are currently underway.”
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched a total of 205 drones from Sunday night into Monday morning, with 172 of them being shot down or intercepted by electronic countermeasures.