Russia under pressure. Drone attacks can stop oil extraction

Russia is in the face of serious problems related to the production of oil. According to Reuters, regular attacks of Ukrainian drones on refineries and ports can force the largest Russian transmission operator, Transnieft, to reduce mining. This information comes from three industry sources and indicates the risk of interference in one of the most important sectors of the Russian economy.

Extracting restrictions

Transnaft was about to inform the manufacturers about the possibility of introducing restrictions. At the same time, the company publicly rejects reports, calling them “false” and describing as part of the Western information war. Despite these assurances, the scale of drone attacks is significant-from August Ukraine has shot for at least ten refineries, as well as for key ports in the Baltic: Ust-Bąba and Primorsk.

The effects are serious – at some point the processing powers of Russian refinery decreased by almost 20 percent. Damage to ports additionally limited Russia’s export capabilities. As Reuters reminds, revenues from oil and gas sales have been in the last decade from one third to even half of the federal budget revenues. Therefore, every disruption in this area is a serious threat to the state’s finances.

Production restriction

Transnieft, which is responsible for the processing of over 80 percent. In recent days, he was to suspend the intake of the raw material from some producers to its own warehouses in recent days. Industry sources estimate that if the attacks are continued, Russia – providing about 9 percent. world oil – can be forced to restrict production.

The President of Ukraine Wołodymyr Zelanski called drone attacks on Russian fuel infrastructure “The fastest -acting sanctions”. Moscow did not publicly refer to the size of losses or their impact on export and extraction, but more and more signals indicate that the consequences may be felt not only for Russia, but also for the global oil market.