Orsk refinery halted after drone attack, gas stations face shortages
The oil refinery in Orsk, Russia, has completely halted operations after a strike by Ukrainian drones. Restoration of the damaged equipment may take up to six months, and fuel availability problems have already arisen in Orenburg Oblast. This was reported by the region's governor, Yevgeny Solntsev.
The Ukrainian military reported a strike on the Orsk refinery on Tuesday, August 11. The facility is located in Orenburg Oblast near the border with Kazakhstan, approximately 1,470 km southeast of Moscow. A fire broke out on the plant's territory after the attack.
According to Solntsev, key infrastructure was damaged and cannot be quickly restored. An additional problem is the origin of the equipment: some units are imported, so due to international sanctions, obtaining the necessary components and carrying out repairs could take up to six months.
The governor stated that the authorities are preparing for the worst-case scenario and plan to compensate for the lost production with supplies of petroleum products from other Russian regions. At the time of his statement, about 80% of the 287 gas stations in Orenburg Oblast were operating. Emergency and specialized services received priority for refueling.
Against the backdrop of the shortage, queues formed near some gas stations. Traffic police officers and volunteers were brought in to manage the flow of motorists. Regional authorities describe the situation as manageable, but ask drivers to take into account disruptions in fuel supplies.
The Orsk refinery is capable of processing about 6 million tons of oil per year. The facility produces gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, fuel oil, bitumen and other petroleum products. Therefore, a prolonged shutdown of the plant means a significant loss of local fuel production.
According to industry data, in 2024 the plant processed about 4.2 million tons of oil and produced approximately 1.8 million tons of diesel fuel, 600 thousand tons of gasoline, 500 thousand tons of bitumen and 200 thousand tons of fuel oil. Prior to the current statement by Russian authorities, Reuters sources had already reported that the plant had stopped refining oil after the attack due to damage to production units.
The strike on Orsk is part of a series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries. Reuters notes that in 2026 Ukraine intensified strikes on refineries, seeking to reduce the capabilities of the Russian oil industry and raise the economic cost of continuing the war. Against this backdrop, fuel disruptions are already being recorded in a number of Russian regions.
Based on materials from: Reuters
