Strike on the Kstovo Refinery
A Ukrainian drone attack on the oil refinery in Kstovo has forced the shutdown of the CDU-6 crude oil distillation unit. The facility, known as Nizhny Novgorodnefteorgsintez and owned by Lukoil, ranks fourth in Russia by total output and second in gasoline production. The strike, confirmed by Ukraine's General Staff, has led to a significant reduction in the plant's operations.
According to reports, the CDU-6 unit—a critical component for primary oil refining—was halted after the attack. Gleb Nikitin, governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, also reported a fire at the industrial site. On May 19 and into the night of May 20, 2026, Ukrainian defense forces targeted Russian occupiers' infrastructure, damaging the AVT-6 primary oil processing unit and sparking a blaze at the Nizhny Novgorodnefteorgsintez refinery.
Broader Impact on Refineries
Earlier, on May 17, the Moscow Oil Refinery temporarily suspended operations following a separate drone strike. While no critical equipment damage was recorded at the Moscow facility, the shutdown was implemented as a precautionary measure to mitigate risks. Full production at the Moscow refinery is expected to resume within a few days.
These attacks on Russian oil refineries highlight the growing ability of Ukrainian forces to disrupt critical infrastructure deep inside enemy territory. Reduced capacity at these plants could lead to a decline in fuel production in Russia, affecting both the country's economy and its capacity to sustain military operations. As these strikes occur amid an ongoing conflict, their consequences may have far-reaching implications for regional energy security.
The recent drone strike on the Kstovo refinery is part of a broader trend of Ukrainian forces targeting key energy infrastructure in Russia. Similar incidents, such as the attack on major refineries in the Leningrad region, have raised concerns about the stability of fuel production in the country. For more details on how these developments are impacting Russia's energy sector, read our coverage on recent strikes on significant oil facilities.