Second Drone Strike in a Week Shuts Down Moscow Oil Refinery

Drone Attack on Moscow Oil Refinery Causes Major Damage

According to ХВИЛЯ: A second drone strike within a week has hit the Moscow Oil Refinery, severely damaging processing units and sparking fires. The attack targeted the Euro+ unit, which began operations in 2020. This follows a previous incident on June 16, when drones struck the CDU-6 unit, highlighting a pattern of attacks on critical refinery infrastructure.

The Euro+ unit includes a primary oil processing section with a capacity of roughly 140,000 barrels per day, accounting for 47% of the refinery's total output. It also features a catalytic reformer and a diesel hydrotreater. The latest strike additionally damaged secondary processing units, inter-shop pipelines, and auxiliary equipment, igniting fires in oil product storage tanks.

The CDU-6 unit, with a capacity of about 160,000 barrels per day (53% of the refinery's capacity), was also hit by drones on June 16. That attack forced a complete shutdown, derailing plans to restart Euro+ midweek. Before the second strike, the facility aimed to operate at roughly half capacity while repairing CDU-6, but the new assault has thwarted those efforts.

Impact on Energy Security

Owned by Gazprom Neft and located in southeastern Moscow, the refinery supplies fuel to roughly half of the capital and its surrounding region. In 2024, it processed 11.6 million tons of crude oil, producing 2.9 million tons of gasoline, 3.2 million tons of diesel, and 1.3 million tons of bitumen. Following the two attacks, the plant is now effectively idle, as both primary processing units have been knocked out of operation.

These drone strikes underscore the vulnerability of critical infrastructure amid rising tensions, with potentially far-reaching consequences for regional energy security. As a key fuel supplier for Moscow and nearby areas, the refinery now faces severe challenges in restoring production, which could lead to fuel shortages in the market. Given the current situation, further attacks might exacerbate economic strain in the region and heighten risks to the stability of energy supplies.

The recent drone strikes have not only caused immediate damage but also raise questions about the ongoing safety of Moscow's energy infrastructure. For further insights into the extent of the damage and official responses, you can explore the latest updates in our report on the damage assessment of the refinery.