In a stunning blow to the Kremlin’s war chest, Ukrainian forces have knocked 15 of Russia’s 38 major oil refineries out of operation, inflicting more than $23.2 billion in economic damage, Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) agency said Thursday. The precision strikes have effectively cut Russia’s oil processing volumes by 55.4% compared to the beginning of this year, leaving just 12 refineries running at reduced capacity.
Russia’s Oil Sector Reels Under Ukrainian Pressure
These coordinated attacks represent a major escalation in Ukraine’s strategy of targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure — a sector Moscow relies on to fund its ongoing invasion. The HUR specifically cited five facilities hit as of September—including the massive Ryazan Oil Refining Company—as accounting for 33% of Russia’s total oil processing volumes. Ukrinform confirmed that the Ryazan refinery, part of Rosneft, supplies aviation fuel and diesel to the Russian military, while also producing TS-1 aviation kerosene for military aircraft.
The damage isn’t just economic; it’s strategic. Russia, the world’s third-largest oil producer, is now being forced to import fuel from abroad through “grey schemes” to bypass international sanctions, according to Ukrainska Pravda. Earlier this week, Ukrainian strikes hit refineries in Kstovo, Yaroslavl, and the Samara region, adding to Moscow’s woes. The result? Long queues at gas stations, inflation spikes, and a gas shortage in regions like annexed Crimea, where citizens are feeling the war’s impact directly in their wallets.
A major oil refinery in Russia’s Ryazan is on fire. The facility supplied aviation fuel and diesel to the Russian military. A Wildberries logistics centre in the city also caught fire following a drone attack. pic.twitter.com/15PwEMNYh9
A Dual Strike on Putin’s Infrastructure
The latest attacks weren’t limited to oil refineries. In the Ryazan region, Ukraine launched a dual strike, hitting both the oil refinery and a Wildberries logistics hub—a Russian version of Amazon that processes nearly a million orders a day. Yahoo News reported that regional Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed fires at both facilities, with power lines damaged and electricity disruptions in parts of the city. The strikes are part of a broader campaign that has seen Ukraine launch over 300 strikes on Russian infrastructure this year alone.
But there is a catch: Russia is fighting back. The Kremlin responded with brutal missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets, bombing a postal logistics hub of Nova Poshta, Ukraine’s largest private delivery company, and a power substation in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the Ibero-American Summit on Thursday, accused Russia of using Shahed drones to hit even the energy equipment that Ukraine’s nuclear power plants depend on. “Every power plant in Ukraine has been damaged in one way or another by Russian attacks,” he said.
🛢🔥 Ukrainian strikes have shut down 15 of Russia's 38 major oil refineries. Damage exceeds $23 billion According to Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR), by the end of September 2026, 15 Russian oil refineries had been taken out of operation, while another 12 had reduced… pic.twitter.com/IKsbvABrjM
The Global Ripple Effect of Russia’s Energy Crisis
The stakes extend far beyond Ukraine’s borders. By crippling Russia’s refining capacity, Ukraine is choking Moscow’s war machine. The strikes have forced Russia to halt aviation fuel exports, while scrambling to source substandard imported jet fuel for its military planes. Yahoo noted that this has already led to at least one military plane blowing up due to the poor quality fuel.
Meanwhile, Mezha.net reported that Vladimir Putin’s decree on September 28 restricted access to refining data, making independent monitoring of the industry impossible and creating conditions for the spread of unreliable data about diesel fuel production among countries interested in buying Russian oil.
| Russian Oil Refinery Status (Late September 2026) | Impact on Total Capacity |
|---|---|
| 15 refineries inoperable | Affected facilities include Ryazan, Slavneft-YANOS, Kirishineftegazsintez, Gazpromneft-Moscow and Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez |
| 12 refineries at reduced capacity | The five hardest-hit facilities together account for around 33% of Russia’s total refining volumes |
| Remote refineries still operating | 24% of total refining (e.g., Gazpromneft-Omsk, NNK-Khabarovsk) |
What Comes Next in the Energy War
The conflict over energy infrastructure shows no signs of abating. Ukraine has signaled it would halt strikes on Russian refineries if Moscow stops attacking Kyiv’s energy infrastructure, but Russia has refused to comply. Meanwhile, Ukrainian intelligence warns that production at surviving refineries may drop further in 2027, as maintenance work postponed this year catches up. The cost of replacing damaged equipment could exceed $20 billion, a sum Russia may struggle to bear amid sanctions and isolation.
As the war grinds on, the energy war will remain a critical battleground, with consequences echoing far beyond the front lines.
⚡️️️️Russian oil refinery in Ryazan reportedly targeted in drone attack. The Ryazan refinery, operated by Russia's state-controlled oil giant Rosneft, has an annual processing capacity of around 17 million metric tons of crude oil.https://t.co/rxXxUIiWQC
