MOSCOW, July 7 — Against this backdrop of sustained conflict, Russia’s petroleum industry, a cornerstone of its economy and a critical source of revenue for its war effort, finds itself increasingly vulnerable to a new kind of aerial siege. Russia remains one of the world’s largest oil producers, pumping an average of 10.5 million barrels per day in 2023. This vast output feeds a network of 32 major oil refineries across the country, with a combined refining capacity of roughly 6.5 million barrels per day.
The oil and gas sector, a pillar of the state, accounts for about 30% of Russia’s federal budget revenue and 60% of its exports. In 2023, according to the International Energy Agency, Russia earned approximately $200 billion from oil and gas exports.
But the machinery of this industry is being systematically targeted. Ukrainian drone strikes have hit at least 15 Russian oil refineries since 2023, causing significant disruptions and reducing the nation’s overall refining capacity. The attacks represent a strategic shift, taking the war deep into Russian territory, far from the front lines.
Taneco: A Blow to the Heart of Refining
The most significant attack, in terms of capacity affected, struck the Taneco refinery in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, on September 20, 2024. This is Russia’s single largest refinery, with a capacity of 360,000 barrels per day. The facility, a jewel in the crown of the country’s refining sector, was hit by a Ukrainian drone, a stark illustration of the reach and precision of these assaults.
Other major refineries have also been in the crosshairs. The Kirishi refinery in Leningrad Oblast, with a capacity of 340,000 barrels per day, and the Omsk refinery in Omsk Oblast, processing 300,000 barrels per day, are among the largest.
The Ryazan refinery in Ryazan Oblast, with a capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, rounds out the list of key facilities that form the backbone of Russia’s domestic fuel supply and export capacity. What is at stake is not merely industrial disruption. Damage to these refineries can lead directly to fuel shortages within Russia and, critically, impact the country’s ability to export petroleum products.
In the corridors of power in Moscow, this represents a dual threat: a domestic economic pressure point and a constraint on a vital source of foreign currency.
Defending the Infrastructure
In response to this escalating threat, the Russian government has implemented measures to protect its critical energy infrastructure. These include deploying air defense systems and electronic warfare units around key refineries. The strategy, however, is a reactive one, and the sheer scale of the country’s refining network presents a formidable challenge.
The wider picture is one of a war of attrition being waged on an industrial scale. For Ukraine, each successful strike on a Russian refinery is a blow to the logistical and financial engine of the invasion.
For Russia, the cost of defending every major facility, and the economic damage from those that are hit, is a mounting burden. As of July 2026, the campaign against Russian refineries continues. The question now is not whether further strikes will occur, but how effectively Russia can shield its most valuable industrial assets, and what the cumulative effect of these disruptions will be on its war-fighting capacity and its domestic economy in the months ahead.
