Damage to Moscow Oil Refinery
On the night of September 20, a targeted strike hit the Moscow Oil Refinery located in Kapotnya, disabling both primary crude processing units and effectively bringing refinery operations to a standstill. The attack severely damaged the ELOU-AVT-6 unit, responsible for about 53% of the refinery's initial oil refining capacity, as well as the 'Euro+' integrated processing unit, which accounts for the remaining 47%. Situated just 18 kilometers from the Kremlin and protected by multiple layers of air defense, the refinery has an annual primary processing capacity of 12 million tons of crude oil.
Impact of the Assault
This strike was part of an unprecedented drone offensive on Moscow, described by Mayor Sergey Sobyanin as the most extensive drone attack the city has ever faced. The raid also ignited fires at the Sofyino technopark warehouses and caused damage to a local thermal power plant. The Moscow refinery supplies between 40% and 50% of the gasoline and diesel fuel consumed by Moscow and the surrounding region, and it is a key provider of aviation fuel for the capital’s airports.
This is not the first time these critical processing units have been targeted. Previous strikes in June 2023, specifically on June 16 and June 18, inflicted damage with a recovery timeline estimated by Reuters to be at least six months. Some analysts even predicted that full operations might not resume before 2027. The latest attack also hit the isomerization unit, which produces high-quality gasoline. According to the 'Absolutely Reliable Source' channel, the damage to both lines
'does not just reduce output but completely halts processing — the so-called "Cyberflour" project.'
The disruption at the Moscow refinery poses serious challenges to the region’s energy security, given its crucial role in meeting the capital’s fuel demands. Considering the refinery has faced repeated attacks, restoration efforts are expected to be prolonged, worsening the fuel supply situation. This event highlights the increasing vulnerability of critical infrastructure amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The recent drone assault on the Moscow Oil Refinery is part of a broader pattern of escalating attacks on critical infrastructure in the region. For more details on how these nighttime strikes have impacted both the refinery and surrounding areas, including the fires at nearby facilities, you can read more in our comprehensive coverage of the situation here.