Protecting oil refineries from drones is costly, but idle plants mean even bigger losses, Russian government says

Protecting oil refineries from drone attacks is an expensive endeavor for Russia, but it is deemed necessary by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. Speaking to reporters, Novak stated that "it's worth it" due to the significant losses that companies would face if the plants were to cease operations.

The refineries' owners already implement "passive protection" for the facilities, and they coordinate with the Defense Ministry and the Russian National Guard. Novak asserted that Russia's protection measures for its oil refineries are as robust as those of the UAE, if not better, owing to the experience gained over recent months.

No energy facility has been taken under external management due to insufficient protection, according to Novak. The presidential decree in question is intended to motivate private companies to "engage more actively and continuously in protecting their facilities." In addition, scheduled refinery maintenance, typically performed in the summer, has been postponed to ensure maximum fuel production.

Ukrainian forces have employed drones to target all of Russia's largest oil refineries by processing volume in recent months, leading to gasoline shortages throughout the country.