Support The Moscow Times!

Russia to Boost Oil Exports as Drone Strikes Disrupt Refining Capacity

Oil loading pier at Kozmino Port. Yuri Smituk / TASS

Russia plans to ramp up crude oil exports by around 200,000 barrels per day this month after Ukrainian drone attacks forced two major refineries to scale back operations, Reuters reported, citing two industry sources.

The Ryazan Oil Refining Company and the Novokuybyshevsk Refinery, both owned by state energy giant Rosneft, shut down several crude distillation units following drone strikes over the weekend. Repairs are expected to take about a month, the sources said.

In 2024, the Ryazan refinery processed 13.1 million metric tons of crude, while Novokuybyshevsk handled 5.74 million tons, underscoring the significance of the current disruption.

As a result, Russia is now expected to increase crude oil exports to nearly 2 million barrels per day in August, up from a previously planned 1.77 million barrels per day, according to Reuters calculations and industry sources.

Rosneft did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

The export surge comes at a time of heightened uncertainty in global demand for Russian oil.

In recent days, Washington has intensified pressure on India — the largest buyer of Russia’s Urals crude — to reduce its imports from Moscow.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods in response to New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil, a key revenue source for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

The new tariff, set to take effect in three weeks, comes on top of a separate 25% duty taking effect Thursday.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more