Ukrainian strikes knock out 15 of Russia's 38 main oil refineries

Ukrainian military intelligence says 15 of Russia’s 38 major oil refineries were out of service by late September 2026. The assessment comes from the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), which tracks the condition of Russian industrial infrastructure. The data indicates a sharp decline in the country's ability to process crude oil.

The damage has cut total refining volumes at these major facilities by 55.4% compared to the start of the year. The DIU reports that 12 additional refineries have also reduced their output. The most severe impact is felt in the Volga, Central, and Southern federal districts. Plants in these regions, including Slavneft-YANOS and the Ryazan Oil Refinery, account for roughly 33% of Russia's total refining capacity.

Remote refineries are currently carrying the load. Facilities such as the Gazpromneft-Omsk Oil Refinery and the Achinsk Refinery continued operations through September. These remote sites processed 906,000 barrels of oil per day in that month. That figure is 147,000 barrels higher than their output at the beginning of the year. These plants now handle about 24% of all Russian oil refining.

Logistical constraints limit how well the remote plants can offset the losses. The DIU notes that shortages of railway cars and road tankers make it difficult to move fuel products from these distant locations. The intelligence agency warns that production at these remote refineries could fall in 2027. Maintenance work planned for 2026 may be postponed to the following year.

The economic damage from precise strikes on the Russian oil sector is estimated at over US$23.2 billion. That amount nearly matches the industry's total revenue for 2025, which was US$26.6 billion. The DIU states that Russia cannot meet domestic fuel needs while also fulfilling export deals. The agency adds that Russia has started importing fuel using grey schemes to bypass international sanctions.