Russian authorities reveal little information about the damage caused by Ukrainian drones. According to several media, the Kremlin is considering restarting old refineries to compensate for the lack of diesel.
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Will Russia experience a diesel shortage due to drone strikes on its oil refineries? The issue appears to worry Moscow authorities, who are considering all possible solutions to avoid the prospect of a shortage of diesel at gas stations. Because this perspective would come into total contradiction with the Kremlin’s propaganda, which wants the war in Ukraine to have no impact on the daily lives of Russians. The government is ready to do anything to avoid any shortages, and even to reverse environmental standards if necessary.
Several refineries in Russia, sometimes located 1,000 km from the Ukrainian border, have been hit by drones in recent weeks. Each time the authorities remain discreet about the damage caused, but it seems very real. According to an estimate by the Reuters agency, refining capacity in Russia has fallen by 15%, with repairs taking a long time or even impossible in the absence of embargoed Western-produced spare parts.
Drop in diesel exports
At the beginning of March, the Russian government decided to severely limit its diesel exports to reserve it for the domestic market. He also asked Kazakhstan to build up a usable stockpile in the event of a shortage, but that does not appear to be enough.
According to several media, the government is currently considering restarting old refineries which would produce old generation diesel, Euro 3 standard, while Russia currently only authorizes Euro 5. Euro 3 diesel is much more polluting and could also, according to specialists, damage modern engines. Which seems to still make the Russian authorities hesitant.
