Russia's Afipsky Oil Refinery Fire Successfully Extinguished After Drone Attack

JAKARTA - The fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, Russia, caused by the wreckage of a Ukrainian drone that crashed, was successfully extinguished.

Russia's Defense Ministry said the air defense system had shot down nine Ukrainian unmanned aircraft in the region overnight.

It was not immediately known how severe the damage was at the Afipsky refinery, which together with the Krasnodar refinery processed 7.2 million metric tons of crude oil by 2024.

As reported by Reuters on Thursday, August 7, market sources said disruptions at the Afipsky refinery could lead to a decline in crude use, potentially adding to Russian export barrels in August.

Ukraine routinely attacks crude oil refineries, pump stations, and ports used for Russian oil and gas exports in drone attacks.

Russia plans to increase exports from its ports to nearly two million barrels per day in August, about 200,000 barrels per day more than previously thought, after two refineries were forced to export more crude after reducing production following the Ukrainian drone strike.

The Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk refineries, both operated by oil company Rosneft, suspended operations by several units of crude oil refining following a drone strike on August 2.

"The repairs will take about a month," said three industry sources.