In Russia, there is a sharp drop in the volumes of oil refining. The company "Rosneft" is currently suffering the most.
SSU drone attack on Tuapse refinery caused severe problems for Russia
According to journalists, during the past month, Russian oil refining companies reduced production by 4% compared to January 2023.
What is important to understand is that the largest drop was recorded in Rosneft — as much as 10%.
As you know, it was the refinery of this company that was attacked by drones of the Security Service of Ukraine on the night of January 25.
The company reduced oil processing by 10% year-on-year to approximately 170,000 tons per day. This is primarily due to the shutdown of the oil refinery in Tuapse, where the drones arrived.
It is also impossible to ignore that the oil refinery in Tuapse is one of the largest and oldest in Russia. It was built back in 1929.
In addition, it is emphasised that the refinery's capacity reaches 12 million tons of oil per year or 240 thousand barrels per day. It produces motor fuel, fuel oil, vacuum gas, and diesel fuel with high sulfur content.
Journalists highlight that exports go to Turkey, China, Malaysia and Singapore through the nearby oil transfer.
The SSU damaged a unique Russian facility for the primary processing of petroleum products
Mykhailo Gonchar, Ukrainian expert on international energy and security relations and president of the Center for Global Studies "Strategy XXI", explained why the SSU attack on the oil refinery in Tuapse became a severe new problem for Moscow.
The fact is that Ukrainian drones managed to damage the Russian ELOU-AVT-12 installation (ELOU-AVT: installation of electric desalination and dehydration of oil, atmospheric and vacuum distillation).
The installation allows for fuel production (including jet fuel for subsonic aviation) with export quality. The Tuapsin Refinery is export-oriented to replenish the war budget with appropriate deductions. Considering the location of the oil refinery, it is logical to assume that some of the products (diesel, kerosene) were also used for the needs of the occupying forces of the Rashist people in the south.
Mykhailo Gonchar
President of the Center for Global Studies "Strategy XXI"
