The Perm Oil Refinery — the seventh-largest in Russia by crude processing volume — has fully halted operations following an attack by a Ukrainian drone. This was reported by two sources in the industry, as cited by Reuters. According to preliminary data, the main primary processing unit CDU-4, which accounts for nearly 40% of the plant's capacity, was taken out of service as early as August 21, while the second key unit, CDU-5, had been idle since July 29.

Full Shutdown of the Country's Seventh-Largest Refinery

According to the sources, the strike on CDU-4, capable of processing 14,000 metric tons of crude oil per day, effectively paralyzed the plant. Together, the two shut-down primary processing units — CDU-4 and CDU-5 — account for roughly 74% of the plant's capacity, making continued normal operation impossible. As a result, following the August 21 attack, during which a large fire broke out on the plant's territory, the Perm Refinery ceased crude oil processing in full.

A Cascade of Strikes: From July 29 to August 21

The plant's shutdown was the result not of a single strike but of an entire series of attacks. The CDU-5 unit, which accounts for 34% of capacity, had been idle since July 29, when the facility was hit by a drone for the first time. A repeat attack on August 21, which damaged CDU-4 and triggered a fire, completed the shutdown. The plant is located 1,460 km northeast of Moscow, underscoring the distance from which its facilities were struck.

Scale of Losses and Repair Timelines

In 2024, the Perm Refinery processed about 12.6 million tons of crude oil, equivalent to roughly 252,000 barrels per day. According to preliminary estimates, repair work following the damage to CDU-4 may take one to two weeks. The exact timeline for restoration depends on the extent of the damage inflicted on the technical equipment during the fire.

Part of a Series of Strikes on Oil Refining

The shutdown of the Perm Refinery fits into a series of strikes on Russia's oil refining facilities. Thus, on August 22, Ukrainian defense forces hit fuel storage tanks at the Yeisk Oil Loading Complex in the Krasnodar Krai. On the night of August 22, drones also attacked Samara Oblast, where a strike on the Novokuybyshevsk Refinery with a resulting fire was recorded. In this way, within just a few days, several major refining and fuel facilities in different regions were hit.

Contradictory Data

There are inconsistencies in open sources that should be taken into account. First, the two shut-down primary processing units (CDU-4 and CDU-5) together account for about 74% of the plant's capacity, yet the sources and a number of outlets describe the facility as fully shut down; formally, this may mean that the remaining capacity does not support a continuous processing cycle, but the exact share of disabled equipment is not officially disclosed. Second, all information about the shutdown and repair timelines relies on anonymous industry sources and has not been confirmed by official statements from the plant itself or Russian authorities, which are absent from the provided materials. Finally, the date of the fire (August 21) coincides with the shutdown of CDU-4, whereas CDU-5 was taken out of service earlier — on July 29 — which is important for the correct chronology of the damage.