One of Russia's largest oil refineries in Ryazan has ceased crude oil processing. The shutdown was caused by a drone attack carried out in the night of July 29. According to industry sources, the plant, owned by Rosneft, may remain out of operation for approximately two weeks while specialists restore technological processes.
Scale of the Strike and Consequences
The attack on the strategic facility took place on the night of Wednesday, July 29. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the operation was conducted by Deep Strike units of the Special Operations Forces jointly with the Russian insurgent movement "Black Spark." President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clarified that the strike damaged not only the oil refinery but also a logistics center. The facility is located in Ryazan, approximately 360 km from the Ukrainian border.
Restoring operations at a major refinery is a complex and lengthy process. Following an unplanned shutdown, primary and secondary units must be restarted, technological modes adjusted, and product quality specifications restored. This is why experts estimate the downtime to be at least two weeks.
Economic Significance of the Ryazan Refinery
The Ryazan plant ranks among the top 5 largest in Russia. In 2024, it processed 13.1 million tons of crude oil, accounting for about 4.9% of the country's total refining volume. The plant's output is critical for the domestic market: last year, it produced 2.2 million tons of gasoline, 3.4 million tons of diesel fuel, and 4.3 million tons of fuel oil.
Despite the halt in processing, the plant continues to sell existing stockpiles. On Thursday, volumes of gasoline and diesel fuel were listed for sale on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange. This indicates that logistics channels are still functioning; however, a long-term shutdown could affect fuel prices and availability in the region.
History of Attacks on the Facility
This is not the first time the Ryazan Refinery's operations have been disrupted by drone strikes. The plant's infrastructure was damaged as early as May 15, which also led to a temporary suspension of processing. The renewed strike at the end of July confirms that Russian industrial facilities remain priority targets for Ukrainian forces.
"Rosneft" has not yet commented on the situation. The company did not respond to a request from Reuters. However, industry sources confirm the shutdown and predict that a full restart of the units is possible no earlier than mid-August.
