Kirishi Oil Refinery in Leningrad Region Halts Oil Processing After Drone Strikes

Kirishi Oil Refinery (KINEF) in the Leningrad region, Russia’s second-largest refinery by capacity, has completely halted oil processing.

The Moscow Times reported on the shutdown.

The refinery halted operations after Ukrainian drones struck the facility on August 30, damaging key units that account for 48% of its processing capacity.

The facility has an annual capacity of 20 million tons and is second only to the Omsk Oil Refinery, which has a capacity of 22 million tons. Two crude oil distillation units were damaged: AVT-6, with a capacity of 22,860 tons per day, or 40% of the refinery’s total capacity, and AT-1, with a capacity of 4,860 tons per day, or 8%.

The refinery, owned by Surgutneftegas and the largest fuel supplier to St. Petersburg and Russia’s northwestern regions, also has two other units, AT-6 and AVT-2.

Fire following a Ukrainian drone strike at the KINEF oil refinery in the city of Kirishi. Aug. 30, 2026. Photo: Exilenova+

Together, they account for 52% of the facility’s capacity, but neither was operating at the time of the attack.

The refinery is one of Russia’s largest oil processing facilities, with an estimated capacity of approximately 330,000-350,000 barrels per day.

Ukrainian drones first struck the refinery on March 8, 2025.

KINEF, which accounts for 7% of Russia’s total oil refining and produces 2 million tons of gasoline and 7 million tons of diesel fuel annually, has already halted operations twice this year for extended repairs following drone attacks — on March 26 and May 5.

The refinery has never been fully restored. In August, it was operating at approximately 50% capacity.

Last month, seven Russian oil refineries completely or partially halted fuel production due to drone attacks. Among them was the YANOS refinery in Yaroslavl, which supplies fuel to Moscow.

The Permnefteorgsintez, Novoshakhtinsk and Yaroslavl refineries, as well as the Volgograd refinery, also halted production of petroleum products. ZapSibNeftekhim, Russia’s largest polymer producer, also halted operations.