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Russia’s Saratov oil refinery has suspended crude oil processing after sustaining damage in a Ukrainian drone strike, according to two sources familiar with the matter cited by Reuters, UATV English reports.
The refinery reportedly halted operations after drones hit its only primary crude distillation unit, CDU-6, which has a processing capacity of 20,000 metric tons per day. The unit is essential for the plant’s operations, making the strike particularly disruptive.
The attack comes as Ukraine continues to intensify long-range strikes against Russia’s energy infrastructure, a campaign aimed at undermining Moscow’s ability to sustain its war effort. The latest disruptions follow a separate attack earlier this week that halted operations at the Omsk refinery, Russia’s largest oil-processing facility.
Saratov regional governor Roman Busargin confirmed that a drone attack damaged a “civilian industrial facility,” killing one person and injuring several others, though he did not identify the refinery.
According to Reuters, fuel from the Saratov refinery has not been offered on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange since Wednesday, indicating a suspension of production. Russia’s state-controlled oil company Rosneft, which owns the refinery, did not respond to the agency’s request for comment.
The Saratov refinery processed 5.8 million tonnes of crude oil in 2024, accounting for approximately 2.2% of Russia’s total refining capacity. It produced about 1.2 million tonnes of gasoline, 1.9 million tonnes of diesel fuel, and 1 million tonnes of fuel oil during the year.
The facility had previously suspended operations following Ukrainian drone attacks in March and May.
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