Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 26, 2026
Add as preferred source on Google
A Ukrainian drone attack on March 26 damaged an industrial area near Surgutneftegaz’s Kirishi refinery—one of Russia’s largest—amid broader disruption to oil export and refining capacity. Over 40% of Russia’s oil export capacity is now halted.
MOSCOW, March 26 (Reuters) - An industrial area near one of Russia's biggest oil refineries was damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack, a Russian official said on Thursday.
At least 40% of Russia's oil export capacity is at a halt following Ukrainian drone attacks, a disputed attack on a major pipeline and the seizure of tankers, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
More than 20 drones were shot down over the northern Leningrad region, according to Governor Alexander Drozdenko.
"The attack is being repelled over the Kirishi district. There is damage in the industrial area," Drozdenko said on Telegram.
Drozdenko did not specify what part of the industrial area was damaged, but the town of Kirishi is home to one of Russia's largest oil refineries, Surgutneftegaz's Kirishinefteorgsintez plant, which was repeatedly targeted by Ukraine last year.
According to industry sources, the refinery processed 17.5 million metric tons of oil (350,000 barrels per day) in 2024, which amounted to 6.6% of Russia's total oil refining volumes.
It produced 2 million tons of gasoline, 7.1 million tons of diesel, 6.1 million tons of fuel oil and 600,000 tons of bitumen.
Russia's Baltic Sea ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, major exporting outlets, suspended crude oil and oil products loadings after Ukrainian drone attacks on Wednesday, two sources said.
Russian officials said earlier on Wednesday a fire broke out at Ust-Luga after a Ukrainian drone attack.
(Reporting by Ksenia Orlova; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Jamie Freed)
The Kirishinefteorgsintez plant in the town of Kirishi, one of Russia's largest oil refineries, was targeted.
At least 40% of Russia's oil export capacity was halted following recent Ukrainian drone attacks.
The refinery produces gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, and bitumen—processing 17.5 million metric tons of oil in 2024.
Primorsk and Ust-Luga, major Baltic Sea export ports, suspended crude oil and oil products loadings.
More than 20 drones were shot down over the northern Leningrad region, according to Governor Alexander Drozdenko.
Explore more articles in the Finance category
