Media: Ukrainian drone attack forces Moscow refinery to halt operations

The Moscow oil refinery, owned by Gazprom Neft, has suspended crude processing after fires erupted at its main crude distillation units following a Ukrainian drone attack on September 20, three industry sources told Reuters.

According to the sources, both primary distillation units were damaged after drones crashed at the refinery, triggering fires. They estimated that repairs could take several weeks, potentially delaying the resumption of normal operations.

The refinery’s fuel has also been absent from sales on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange since September 21.

Ukraine’s General Staff said earlier on September 21 that attacks over the previous week had knocked out more than 45% of Russia’s designed oil-refining capacity. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, argued that Russia had “lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry due to its War with Ukraine.”

Early on September 20, the ASTRA Telegram channel, which focuses on open-source intelligence (OSINT), reported that the Moscow refinery had been hit.

By Jeyhun Aghazada