Ukraine Claims Major Impact on Russian Oil Refinery Capacity

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine has reported that its long-range strikes have significantly diminished Russia’s oil refining capabilities, disrupting Moscow’s supply lines during its ongoing invasion.

The Defense Ministry stated on Sunday that recent attacks on refineries located in major cities such as Moscow, Yaroslavl, Ust-Luga, Perm, Saratov, and Syzran have rendered over half—51%—of Russia’s oil refining capacity non-operational. However, independent verification of this claim has not been feasible.

As the conflict reaches a stalemate along the extensive 1,200-kilometer front line, both nations have escalated their air assaults.

Ukrainian forces have targeted refineries from the heart of Russia to Siberia, leading to a severe fuel shortage in Russia earlier this year that prompted restrictions on gasoline sales by authorities.

While Russian officials have not publicly shared specific damage assessments regarding the nation’s oil infrastructure, President Vladimir Putin acknowledged, on October 1, that the strikes have potentially cost Russia around 1% of its gross domestic product.

“They started attacking oil refineries and openly declared the aim of hurting our economy. Did they succeed? Partially,” Putin remarked during a discussion at the Valdai Club forum on international foreign policy.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara indicated that evaluations by analysts from Ukraine’s intelligence, the General Staff, and the Defense Ministry confirmed the strikes’ damaging impacts.

“Taking out 51% of struck refining capacity is a serious blow to the enemy’s economy and their ability to sustain aggression and support their troops. Our deep strikes continue to push the conflict into Russian territory,” he added.

Historically, Russia ranks as the third-largest global producer of refined fuel products, trailing only the U.S. and China.

Some of Russia’s 32 refineries have faced attacks as frequently as 15 times since the conflict began, creating a cycle of destruction and emergency repairs that could undermine their long-term functionality, as noted by the International Energy Agency.

Ukrainian strikes are increasingly aimed at sophisticated equipment meant to eliminate impurities from fuel, which can take months to repair. According to the IEA, diesel production has decreased by approximately 30%, leading to waits of up to 40 hours at gas stations.

In response, Russian refiners have adjusted by deferring routine maintenance and reactivating inactive units. They have also lowered fuel quality standards to keep supplies flowing, potentially harming engines and affecting pollution control systems.

The Kremlin’s decision to halt diesel exports has driven global prices higher, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump, on September 13, to recommend that Ukraine cease its attacks on refineries.

In another incident, a Russian airstrike using a guided bomb in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv resulted in at least three fatalities and injuries to 29 others, including three children, as reported by Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

“There might be people trapped under the rubble of the residential building hit. A search and rescue operation is actively ongoing,” Terekhov mentioned on his Telegram channel.

A previous drone strike by Russia in Kharkiv’s Industrialnyi district also claimed one life, with Terekhov commenting late Sunday about damage to vehicles and buildings.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry stated on Monday that it had targeted an electrical substation in the Kharkiv region, alongside energy infrastructure and maritime vessels used by Ukraine’s military.

Ukrainian air force officials reported that overnight, Russia deployed 205 drones, with 172 of them successfully intercepted or neutralized.

In recent weeks, Ukraine has faced heightened aerial offensives from Russia, which include ballistic missiles and advanced jet-powered drones. Cities, including Kyiv, have experienced persistent air raid alerts, punctuated by deafening explosions. Officials and analysts contend that these attacks aim to instill fear in civilians and undermine their resolve against Russia’s extensive invasion since 2022.

Presidential adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov shared on social media that Kyiv has installed 12 automated turrets to combat jet-powered Shahed drones, with plans for additional units. He described these turrets as machine guns controlled by artificial intelligence.

The air force later confirmed that these robotic turrets successfully shot down Russian jet-powered drones, including the Geran-5, for the first time.

“The technology involves machine vision to locate and engage targets. Artificial intelligence enables the operation even against jet-powered drones,” air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat explained on Ukrainian television.

In a separate report, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 199 Ukrainian drones over various regions, including annexed Crimea and the Black Sea, in a similar overnight operation.

On Monday, operations at a border crossing between Moldova and Ukraine were halted after a shell landed near a checkpoint during a Russian attack on Ukrainian infrastructure, as noted by Moldova’s Border Police.

The shell struck near the Palanca-Mayaky-Udobne checkpoint, damaging a passenger bus parked nearby and resulting in minor injuries to one border service employee. Authorities have advised people to steer clear of the area.