Oil refinery in Saratov stops operations due to drone attacks

In Russia, the Saratov oil refinery has stopped operations indefinitely after damage from another attack by Ukrainian drones.

This was reported by Reuters citing two unnamed sources familiar with the situation.

According to the media sources, Ukrainian drones hit the main primary oil processing unit CDU-6 at the refinery, which processed up to 20,000 tons of raw materials per day. This was the only unit of this type at the enterprise, Reuters writes.

Governor of Saratov region Roman Busargin on July 8 confirmed that "civilian infrastructure facilities" were damaged as a result of the drone attack, but did not provide details. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that the Saratov Oil Refinery belonging to Rosneft was hit on July 8. Since the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, this facility has been attacked repeatedly.

Rosneft did not respond to Reuters' request.

In Russia, several large oil refineries have already stopped operations due to drone attacks.

In the first six months of 2026, at least 13 oil refineries in Russia fully or partially suspended operations after attacks by Ukrainian drones, calculated earlier by Novaya Gazeta Europe. According to the media, a total of 25 percent of Russia's total oil refining capacity and 30 percent of gasoline and diesel fuel production were excluded.

The terms of suspension of work at such enterprises vary. For example, the oil refinery in Kapotnya near Moscow, hit in mid-June, will not be able to resume full operations until at least December, media reported earlier.

Source: DW