Drone attack shuts down Russia's Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Rostov Oblast

The Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia's Rostov Oblast was forced to cease operations after suffering damage from a drone attack on the night of August 25. According to regional Governor Yuri Slyusar, the refinery, which possesses a design capacity of 7.5 million metric tons of oil per year, is responsible for producing oil, gas oils, fuel oil, and other refined petroleum products.

In August 2025, the refinery had previously been targeted by Ukrainian strikes. Slyusar informed about 30 Ukrainian drones striking the Rostov Oblast, mentioning the involvement of cities such as Gukovo, Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Novoshakhtinsk, Kamensky, Tarasovsky, and Rodionovo-Nesvetaysky districts.

On August 25, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff confirmed an attack on the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai. This refinery, with a design capacity of 6.25 million metric tons of oil annually, generates diesel fuel and gasoline components, contributing to Russia's supplying of occupying forces.

Earlier, on August 13, Russian media reported that Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries could bring Russia's refining industry to a record low as of August, with petroleum-product output likely failing to return to normal levels until 2026. According to Reuters, citing industry sources and its estimations, Russia's seaborne petroleum-product exports declined by 54.7% in July compared to the same period in 2025, resulting in total shipments of 3.93 million metric tons.