Moscow Refinery Unlikely To Resume Operations After Drone Strikes Until 2027 — Reuters

The Moscow oil refinery, which suffered significant damage as a result of Ukrainian drone strikes, is unlikely to resume production this year.

Reuters reported on this, citing two sources familiar with the matter in the oil industry.

The plant is expected to remain out of operation for at least six months.

The refinery is located on the southern outskirts of the Russian capital in the Kapotnya district.

In June, Ukrainian long-range drones struck the strategic facility twice.

The first attack took place on June 16, after which a fire broke out at the plant, with smoke visible for several kilometers.
Based on published footage from local residents, Ukrainian Defense Forces used FP-1, Lyutyi, and Shahed-type UAVs to strike the Moscow region.

Later, on June 18, a second strike was held at the refinery. Footage from local residents showed multiple ignition points at the facility, including on the ELOU-AVT-6 unit.

The unit is designed for the preparation and primary processing of crude oil. Its main function is to separate crude oil into basic fractions (distillates) for further fuel production.

The Kapotnya refinery is one of the ten largest in Russia and provides about 40% of the Moscow region’s fuel demand.

The plant’s capacity is 11 million tons of oil per year. It produces gasoline grades AI-80EK, AI-92EK, and AI-95EK, diesel fuel, aviation kerosene, bitumen, sulfur, and various polymers.

Earlier, a large-scale fire at the Russian state-owned facility Temp Combine in Rybinsk, Yaroslavl region, destroyed 15 fuel tanks.