Perm refinery shuts down after Ukrainian drone strike

Russia's Perm oil refinery, the country's seventh-largest by processing volume, has suspended operations following a Ukrainian drone attack on August 21, according to two industry sources. The strike caused a fire and damaged technological units at the facility.

The attack is part of a broader Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, aimed at undermining Moscow's war effort and reducing its revenue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed on Friday that the military had struck the refinery in Perm.

The primary CDU-4 unit, which handles nearly 40% of the plant's capacity and processes about 14,000 metric tons of oil daily, was halted on August 21. Preliminary estimates suggest repairs could take one to two weeks.

Another key unit, CDU-5, which accounts for 34% of capacity, has been idle since a separate drone attack on July 29. The plant also operates two smaller units, CDU-1 and CDU-2, each contributing 14% of capacity.

Lukoil, which controls the refinery, did not respond to requests for comment. The facility, located about 1,460 km northeast of Moscow, processed roughly 12.6 million tons of oil in 2024, producing 2 million tons of gasoline, 5.3 million tons of diesel, and other petroleum products.

Several Russian regions have reported fuel shortages as a result of repeated strikes on refineries and strong seasonal demand.