Russia Faces Fuel Shortages Amid Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Oil Infrastructure

Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian oil infrastructure have resulted in fuel shortages across various Russian regions, including the Far East, Crimea, and Nizhny Novgorod. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that the overall domestic fuel supply situation is under control, although certain regions are facing gasoline shortages.

In response to these disruptions, the Russian government has implemented a diesel export ban and extended gasoline export restrictions through the end of the year to prioritize domestic supply. Novak emphasized that regional authorities and the energy ministry are actively managing the situation. He also noted that ongoing modernization of oil refineries will help stabilize and increase fuel production in the near future. Exports may resume if domestic supply surpasses demand.

The fuel shortages have been exacerbated by Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure. For instance, on September 27, Ukrainian long-range drones struck an oil pumping station in Russia's Chuvashia region, causing a fire and halting operations. A Ukrainian security official stated that this action is part of ongoing efforts by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to target and impose economic sanctions on Russia's oil sector, which is believed to generate significant profits that fund the war against Ukraine.

These attacks have led to increased oil exports through Russia's western ports—Primorsk, Ust-Luga, and Novorossiisk—by 25% in September compared to August, reaching 2.5 million barrels per day. This rise is attributed to outages at Russian refineries caused by Ukrainian drone attacks, which freed up more crude oil for export. Despite the attacks targeting key export infrastructure, loadings of Urals, KEBCO, and Siberian Light grades rose by 500,000 bpd from August and exceeded initial plans by 600,000 bpd.

The situation has also impacted global oil markets. Oil prices rebounded on October 2, 2025, after three consecutive days of losses, driven by concerns over market oversupply. The rise was supported by the possibility of tighter sanctions on Russian crude. Brent crude futures increased by 0.57% to $65.72 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose by 0.55% to $62.12. Analysts saw this as a technical rebound, influenced by geopolitical tensions and rising buying interest around WTI's $60 support level.

In a related development, the United States has decided to provide Ukraine with intelligence on long-range energy infrastructure targets deep within Russia. The aim is to help Ukraine disrupt key Russian energy assets—such as refineries, pipelines, and power plants—to weaken the Kremlin’s revenue stream used for funding its war in Ukraine. The U.S. is also urging NATO allies to offer similar intelligence support.

These developments underscore the escalating economic and strategic pressures on Russia's energy sector amid ongoing conflicts and international responses.