Ukraine sets record for strikes on Russian refineries

Ukraine's armed forces carried out 21 strikes on Russian oil refineries in August — a record number for a single calendar month, Bloomberg calculated.

Previously, the highest figures were recorded in May (17 attacks) and July (18).

As a result, gasoline prices have risen again since mid-August after a brief stabilization, and long lines have appeared at gas stations — including in Moscow, whose supply the authorities give priority to.

Since the beginning of the month, six of the largest refineries have shut down, the latest being Lukoil's Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez (NORSI) plant. According to Reuters, with this facility included, all of the company's main plants have stopped operating.

According to EA Analytics, oil refining in Russia fell in August to 3.8 million barrels per day — the lowest level in more than 20 years. By comparison, in previous years during this period, when demand is traditionally higher due to vacations and the harvest, 5.3–5.5 million barrels were processed.

Gasoline production and its supplies to the domestic market in the first three weeks of August fell by almost 20% compared with the same period last year, a person familiar with the data told Bloomberg. Diesel fuel output declined by 23%, but supplies to the market fell by only 3%, thanks to the export ban introduced at the beginning of the summer.