Ukraine carries out record drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure in November

Ukraine carried out record drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure in November targeting refineries and tankers as the US pushes for a peace deal to end nearly four years of war.

According to Bloomberg data compiled from public statements, Ukraine struck Russian refineries at least 14 times in November, including four attacks on Black Sea oil-loading facilities and tankers transporting Russian crude, Caliber.Az reports.

A person familiar with the operations said Ukraine targeted two tankers in the Black Sea last week, while a third vessel suffered four explosions off Dakar, Senegal, on November 27.

Unmanned boats also damaged one of three moorings at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal, the largest outlet for Kazakh oil, leaving just one operational mooring.

“Any further operations are impossible,” CPC said.

Kazakhstan warned the attacks on civilian energy infrastructure are “unacceptable” and pose risks to global energy security.

Russia continues strikes on Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure to undermine morale ahead of winter. Meanwhile, the US is pressing for a peace deal, with diplomatic visits intensifying. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would stop fighting when Ukraine withdraws troops from occupied areas in Donetsk.

The attacks coincide with a global oil market moving toward oversupply. Ukraine’s strikes on refineries near Moscow, in the Volga region, and on the Black Sea coast aim to reduce Kremlin energy revenues. Data show these facilities accounted for over 20% of Russia’s oil-processing a year ago.

Kpler estimates Russia’s refinery runs fell to about 5 million barrels a day in November, down from a historical 5.3–5.5 million, noting: “With repeated strikes on the same facilities, there is growing uncertainty over whether plants can safely resume operations even after repair works are completed, further clouding the outlook for crude throughput.”

By Sabina Mammadli