Russian oil shipments rise despite escalating drone attacks on refineries
Russian oil exports in the four-week period before February 15 averaged 3.39 million barrels per day (Photo: REUTERS/Yoruk Isik)
Russian oil shipments have risen amid an escalation of drone attacks on refineries, according to vessel-tracking data cited by Bloomberg on Feb. 18.
As journalists reported, the data were collected over four weeks through Feb. 15. According to the findings, Russia’s oil exports averaged 3.39 million barrels a day.
“Compared with the period through Feb. 8, exports edged higher, rising for a fourth consecutive week, but remained well below the peak recorded before last Christmas — by about 480,000 barrels a day,” Bloomberg wrote.
The increase in shipments, combined with higher average prices over four weeks, pushed inflows to the Kremlin’s war chest to their highest level in nearly two months, the agency reported.
At the same time, oil production in Russia declined in January for a second straight month, leaving output nearly 300,000 barrels a day below the level the Kremlin is allowed to pump under its agreement with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies.
“However, any impact from lower production on exports was likely more than offset by the resumption of attacks on refineries. After a lull in January, Ukraine stepped up drone strikes this month on Russian oil refineries, hitting Lukoil plants in Volgograd and Ukhta, as well as the independent Ilsky refinery in the Black Sea region. The combined processing capacity of the three plants is about 500,000 barrels a day,” Bloomberg wrote.
Looking ahead, however, Russian oil shipments via the Baltic Sea are facing growing weather-related challenges, the agency said, noting the heaviest sea ice around oil ports in 15 years.
“This could constrain part of the country’s Baltic program because of a shortage of vessels capable of operating in such conditions. Freezing has already led to one tanker accident at Ust-Luga and could slow deliveries,” Bloomberg concluded.
Earlier, Bloomberg calculations showed that in 2025 Ukraine carried out 120 attacks on Russian oil facilities, with refineries bearing the brunt.
Against this backdrop, pipeline deliveries of oil to Russian refineries fell to a 15-year low in 2025, while overall oil refining in Russia declined by 1.7% to 262.3 million metric tons.
As reported, pipeline oil supplies to Russian refineries in 2025 fell 1.6% from 2024 to 228.34 million metric tons, the lowest level since 2010.
During 2025, Ukraine’s Defense Forces carried out more than 140 attacks on oil refineries and fuel depots in Russia and Russian-occupied territories, a 51.1% increase from the previous year.
On Feb. 9, The Moscow Times reported that losses suffered by Russian oil companies from Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries could exceed 1 trillion rubles ($12.9 billion).
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