New Delhi, October 5: Ukraine has claimed that its long-range strikes have knocked out 51% of Russia’s oil refining capacity, potentially affecting Moscow’s ability to supply fuel to its forces. The Ukrainian Defence Ministry said late Sunday that recent attacks on refineries in Moscow, Yaroslavl, Ust-Luga, Perm, Saratov and Syzran had disabled 51% of Russia’s oil refining capacity, reported AP. The claim could not be independently verified.
Russia and Ukraine have stepped up their aerial attacks in recent weeks, while fighting along the 1,200-kilometre (750-mile) front line has largely stalled. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian refineries, with attacks stretching from Moscow to Siberia. The strikes contributed to a fuel shortage in Russia earlier this year, forcing authorities to impose restrictions on gasoline sales.
Russian officials have not provided figures on the damage caused to the country’s oil infrastructure. However, President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the economic impact of the attacks on October 1, saying they had cost Russia about 1% of its GDP. “They started attacking oil refineries and openly declared the goal of damaging our economy. Did they achieve their goal? Partially,” Putin said at a meeting of the Valdai Club forum of international foreign policy experts.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara said the assessment was based on analysis by Ukraine’s intelligence services, General Staff and Defence Ministry. He described the damage as a significant blow to Russia’s economy and its ability to conduct military operations and supply its troops.
The International Energy Agency said some of Russia’s 32 refineries have been hit as many as 15 times since the war began. One refinery has been targeted roughly every three days in recent months, creating repeated cycles of damage and emergency repairs that could cause long-term degradation.
The attacks have increasingly focused on complex equipment used to remove impurities from fuel, which can take months to repair. The IEA estimates that Russia’s diesel output has fallen by about 30%, while drivers have faced waits of up to 40 hours at gasoline stations.
