RUSSIA – 45% of Oil Capacity Hit by Drone Attacks as Refineries Close & Ukraine Targets Russian Oil
Video Summary
The Russian economy is facing a significant threat from Ukraine’s use of drones to attack its oil refineries. Since the 21st of January, Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil refineries with success, with 15 attacks reported, resulting in 9 facilities being partially closed. This has reduced Russia’s oil production capacity by around 11%, causing a significant impact on the Russian economy. The attacks have also damaged 45% of Russia’s total refining capacity, with estimates suggesting a potential annual loss of $30-50 billion if the facilities remain affected for the next 12 months.
The attacks have been particularly effective due to Ukraine’s ability to use long-range drones, with the most recent strikes covering over 1,000 miles. Ukraine’s strategy is to target not just the refineries but also the terminals, which could potentially disrupt Russia’s ability to export oil and gas.
Russia has responded by deploying S-300 air defense systems to its oil facilities, but this comes at a significant cost, with each system costing around $1.5 million. Additionally, the system has not been 100% effective in shooting down all the drones, leaving Russia’s infrastructure vulnerable to further attacks.
The Ukrainian strategy has been successful in targeting Russia’s economy, which is heavily reliant on oil and gas exports. By disrupting these exports, Ukraine is potentially cutting into Russia’s revenue, making it harder for Russia to fund its military efforts in Ukraine. As the war continues, Ukraine’s use of drones is likely to grow, posing an increasing threat to Russia’s economy and potentially bringing about a negotiated settlement to the conflict.