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Ukraine drone strikes push Russian refining to 24-year low in July

Russian refineries processed about 3.6 million barrels per day in July, roughly one-third below the seasonal average, as attacks broadened from refineries to tankers and export infrastructure.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Energy

Russian crude processing fell to its lowest level in more than two decades in July after Ukraine expanded its drone campaign beyond refineries to include tankers, pipelines, and export infrastructure, according to The Moscow Times citing Bloomberg analysis.

In July, Russian refineries processed an estimated 3.6 million barrels per day, the lowest monthly level since May 2002 and about one-third below the seasonal average. From 2020 to 2025, Russian refineries typically processed between 5.3 million and 5.6 million barrels per day during the same period.

Ukraine struck 18 Russian refineries in July, exceeding the previous monthly record of 17 attacks set in May. The targets included the 440,000-barrel-per-day Omsk refinery, more than 2,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian drones also hit five large oil tankers, five pieces of port infrastructure, and two pipelines during the month. Bloomberg counted 30 attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure in July, the second-highest monthly total since the full-scale invasion began, with refinery strikes concentrated in the first half before shifting to tankers and export logistics later in the month.

Latest closeWTI crude $86.80 ▲3.8%

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