Ukraine Drone Strikes Cut Russian Refinery Output but Russian Crude Exports Hit 2026 High

Ukraine escalated long-range drone and missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure beginning in 2025 and continuing into 2026 with U.S. and Western intelligence support, Washington Examiner reported. Hundreds of Ukrainian drones struck refineries and storage tanks in Moscow last week, producing visible black smoke plumes.

A drone attack hit the oil refinery and terminal in Tuapse, Russia, on April 29, 2026. Ukraine conducted over 150 successful long-range strikes against Russian oil infrastructure in 2025, averaging 13 to 17 strikes per month. Ukraine conducted nearly 70 strikes against Russian energy assets in the first five months of 2026, including 21 strikes in April 2026.

Ukraine has launched over two dozen strikes against Russian oil refineries since March 2026, including eight of Russia’s ten largest refineries. Russian daily refined oil output fell by up to 700,000 barrels per day in April and May 2026, a 13% decline from 5.2 million barrels per day at the end of March 2026.

Russian oil refinery throughput dropped below 4 million barrels per day at the end of May 2026, the lowest level since 2005.

Russian oil refinery throughput recovered to over 4.5 million barrels per day at the beginning of June 2026. Mid-June 2026 strikes on Moscow’s Kapotnya refinery and Tatneft’s TANECO refinery knocked out 600,000 barrels per day of throughput. Nearly a quarter of Russia’s total oil refining capacity has been knocked offline by Ukraine at some point in the past year.

Russian oil companies suffered over $13 billion in total losses from Ukrainian drone attacks in 2025, including $1.29 billion in direct damage. Russia has banned gasoline and jet fuel exports in response to refinery damage. Russia has imported fuel to areas most affected by refinery damage.