A Lukoil refinery shut down after Ukrainian strikes. It is the second attack since the beginning of the year

The refinery owned by Lukoil in Volgograd, southern Russia, has suspended oil processing since May 29 when it was attacked by Ukrainian drones, causing a fire and several damages, two industry sources said, cited by Reuters.

With peace talks deadlocked, Ukraine continues to bomb Russia's energy infrastructure.

The local governor announced last week that at least one person was killed and two injured in a drone attack in the Volgograd region.

The quoted sources stated that the CDU-1 crude oil distillation unit, which represents 40% of the refinery's capacity, was stopped, and the CDU-5 and CDU-6 units were also stopped. Lukoil did not respond to a request for comment.

The Lukoil refinery in Volgograd was also attacked with drones in mid-February, an attack that also led to the interruption of the activity.

In 2024, the Volgograd refinery processed 13,500,000 tons of oil, which is 5% of the volume processed in Russian refineries.

The refinery produced 6,000,000 tons of diesel, 1,900,000 tons of gasoline and 700,000 tons of fuel oil.

Systematic attacks by Ukrainians

The attack in Volgograd preceded a series of Ukrainian strikes that took place overnight from Saturday to Sunday.

In Saratov, a region on the banks of the Volga River that is home to several oil refineries and has been the target of regular attacks by Ukraine in recent years, Governor Roman Busarghin said on Telegram that “civilian infrastructure” had been damaged.

In the Kirov region, located northeast of Moscow and about 1,300 km from Ukrainian-controlled territory, Governor Alexander Sokolov said the drones struck a facility in the Urjumski district.

Governors of Rostov, Voronezh and Belgorod regions, all bordering Ukraine, also reported attacks, with three civilians injured in Belgorod.

In the Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, Moscow-backed governor Sergei Aksionov said authorities were introducing restrictions on the sale of gasoline.

He did not say why, but Ukraine has been attacking fuel infrastructure in southwestern Russia near Crimea for months.