Ukrainian drone strike fully shuts down oil refinery Russia’s Orsk, governor says. Repairs could take 6 months.

Ukrainian drones severely damaged the Orsk oil refinery, causing it to shut down entirely, according to Orenburg Governor Yevgeny Solntsev. The attack struck critical infrastructure that is currently beyond repair, making the task of restoring operations challenging due to international sanctions restricting the availability of necessary imported equipment.

Solntsev estimated that repairs could take up to six months, warning that the region should prepare for the worst-case scenario. He explained that the community will need to rely on fuel transported from outside sources, which has already led to reconfiguration of logistics. Out of 287 gas stations, 80% are currently operational, but the situation remains complicated, with priority given to special-purpose vehicles.

Solntsev reiterated that while gas station conditions across the region are not perfect everywhere, they are still manageable. The drones targeted the Orsk oil refinery early on August 11, according to Ukrainian monitoring channels. The strike specifically hit the primary oil refining unit at Orsknefteorgsintez. Ukraine's military has been conducting frequent strikes on Russian oil facilities recently, resulting in a fuel crisis characterized by increased gas prices, shortages, and lengthy lines at gas stations throughout the country.