In August, Ukraine intensified its strikes on Russian oil refineries, resulting in a significant impact on Russia’s oil processing capabilities. According to reports, the strikes marked the highest number of attacks on oil facilities in a single month, averaging just over 3.8 million barrels of oil processed per day in Russia, a figure that is one of the lowest in over two decades.
The attacks have exacerbated a new wave of fuel shortages in Russia. Data from EA Analytics indicates that for the first three weeks of August, gasoline production and its supply to the domestic market in Russia fell nearly 20% year-on-year.
Fuel scarcity has become evident even in Moscow, where Bloomberg reports that it is now common to see queues of 30 to 50 cars at gas stations. Fuel sales have been rationed in dozens of regions across the country.
Since early 2024, Ukraine has increased its assaults on oil and gas facilities in Russia, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stating that Ukraine has no choice but to retaliate against airstrikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Oil processing in Russia averaged just over 3.8 million barrels per day in August.
