Drone Strikes Hit Russian Diesel Production

Three of Russia’s six largest diesel-producing refineries significantly reduced or completely halted output in September because of damage from drone attacks, according to Reuters calculations based on data from fuel market participants.

The Omsk, Kirishi, Taneco, Volgograd, NORSI and Perm refineries account for about half of Russia’s diesel production. The Kirishi refinery has shut down completely, while the Volgograd refinery and NORSI are operating at about a quarter of capacity. The extent of the damage from Sunday’s strike on Taneco remains unclear.

Ukraine, whose energy infrastructure is regularly targeted by Russia, considers Russian refineries legitimate military targets. According to the International Energy Agency, a Russian refinery was successfully hit on average every three days during the first eight months of 2026.

The resulting decline in fuel production has forced Moscow to restrict exports of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Russian diesel exports were already below one million metric tons in June, compared with about 2.5 million metric tons a month a year earlier. Turkey and Brazil had been the largest buyers.

US President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to halt strikes on Russian diesel infrastructure, arguing that the resulting shortage is harming the world. The average US diesel price has exceeded $6 per gallon for the first time.

(Reuters, bak)