Ukraine’s drone strikes on Russian oil refineries cut capacity by 45%

Ukraine has struck all but five of Russia's 32 major oil refineries with drone attacks, costing Moscow an estimated $20bn and bringing the war's consequences directly to Russian citizens. The attacks have cut Russia's oil refining capacity by 45 percent, causing fuel shortages across 92 percent of regions, with rationing in two-thirds, and forcing export restrictions. Ukraine increasingly targets specific refinery units to maximize damage, with complex repairs taking up to eight months. Experts say the strategy's main value is psychological, exposing Russians to war realities and prompting questions about national defense. However, it has drawbacks, as Russia intensified its air campaign and halted Ukrainian Black Sea ports, while higher global oil prices have boosted Russian revenue by 60 percent.