Ukraine hits record 21 Russian refineries in August, Bloomberg reports
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Ukraine struck Russian oil refineries 21 times in August, a record for a single month, according to Bloomberg. The attacks halted six major plants, including Lukoil's Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez, and pushed gasoline prices higher with queues forming at stations in Moscow. Refining fell to 3.8 million barrels per day, the lowest in more than 20 years.
Key Facts
- Ukraine carried out 21 strikes on Russian oil refineries in August, exceeding the previous monthly highs of 17 in May and 18 in July.
- Six major Russian refineries halted operations since the start of August, the latest being Lukoil's Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez (NORSI).
- Russian oil refining dropped to 3.8 million barrels per day in August, the lowest level in more than 20 years, according to EA Analytics.
- Gasoline production and domestic supplies fell nearly 20% in the first three weeks of August compared with the same period last year, while diesel output dropped 23%.
- Gasoline prices resumed rising from mid-August after a brief stabilization, with long queues appearing at filling stations, including in Moscow.
Record Strike Count
Ukraine's armed forces struck Russian oil refineries 21 times in August, the highest monthly total since the start of the war, according to Bloomberg's tally. The previous peaks were 17 attacks in May and 18 in July. The strikes have intensified pressure on Russia's fuel infrastructure as the summer driving and harvest season raises demand.
Refinery Shutdowns
Six major refineries have halted operations since the beginning of August, with Lukoil's Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez (NORSI) the most recent to stop. Reuters reported that with NORSI offline, all of Lukoil's main plants have ceased working. EA Analytics data show Russian refining fell to 3.8 million barrels per day in August, the lowest in more than two decades, compared with 5.3–5.5 million barrels in previous years for the same period.
Fuel Market Impact
Gasoline production and domestic supplies dropped almost 20% in the first three weeks of August year-on-year, a person familiar with the data told Bloomberg. Diesel output fell 23%, but domestic market supplies declined only 3% due to an export ban introduced in early summer. Gasoline prices began rising again from mid-August after a brief stabilization, and long queues formed at filling stations, including in Moscow, which receives priority in supply allocation.
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Ukraine hits record 21 Russian refineries in August, Bloomberg reports
