Volgograd refinery completely stops processing after Ukrainian strike

The Volgograd oil refinery of Lukoil has completely stopped oil processing after a drone attack on October 2. The reason was equipment damage, two industry sources told Reuters.

According to the agency, the capacity of the Volgograd refinery is about 14 million tons of oil per year, or approximately 280 thousand barrels per day. Thus, the shutdown of the enterprise has taken one of Russia's major oil refining assets out of operation.

Ukraine's Defense Forces attacked the Volgograd refinery on the night of October 2. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the strike on the enterprise and reported explosions and a fire on its territory. At the same time, one of the nodes of the Russian oil transportation system in the Samara region was hit.

The Volgograd refinery produces motor gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel. On the day of the strike, the final extent of the damage remained unknown, but new data from Reuters indicate that the attack resulted in a complete halt of processing.

The enterprise has repeatedly been a target of Ukrainian long-range strikes. Attacks on Russian refineries in recent months have been systematic and cover enterprises in various regions of the Russian Federation.

Ukraine's Ministry of Defense stated on October 7 that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense, more than 51% of Russia's oil refining capacity has been damaged as a result of recent long-range strikes. The ministry called this the result of a systematic campaign to reduce Russia's military-economic potential.

Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara named the Moscow, Yaroslavl, KINEF, Ust-Luga, Perm, Ilsky, Saratov and Syzran refineries among the recently hit enterprises. According to him, the effect of such operations accumulates even when the consequences of strikes become obvious not immediately.

A separate priority of the Ministry of Defense remains long-range strike drones. According to the ministry, in 2026 Ukraine tripled their production and procurement and plans to continue increasing capabilities for strikes deep into Russian territory.

Based on materials from: Reuters, Ministry of Defense of Ukraine