Ukrainian Drone Strikes Cause 17% Drop in Russian Fuel Exports in September
On October 15, 2025, Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian oil refineries led to a significant decline in fuel exports from Russia, which fell by 17.1% in September compared to August, totaling 7.58 million tons, reports 24brussels.
Industry sources indicate that these strikes forced unplanned shutdowns at several key refineries, thereby decreasing fuel exports and prompting an increase in crude oil shipments. The overall volume of fuel exports through Baltic ports such as Primorsk, Vysotsk, St. Petersburg, and Ust-Luga slumped by 15.4% month-on-month, reaching 4.36 million tons.
Additionally, fuel exports through Russian Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports dropped by 23.2% in September, amounting to 2.52 million tons. Conversely, fuel exports from Russian Arctic ports in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk saw a slight increase of 1.8% month-on-month, totaling 30,200 tons.
According to Reuters’ sources and calculations, fuel exports from ports in Russia’s Far East decreased by 1.5% in September compared to the previous month, reaching 661,300 tons.
The Ukrainian campaign targeting Russian refineries, which began in summer 2025, has significantly altered the energy and financial landscape of the aggressor state. Throughout the past week, Ukrainian drones launched a series of strikes on Russian oil terminals and refineries, including facilities in Feodosia (Crimea) and Ufa (Bashkortostan). The most notable strike occurred on October 13, targeting the largest oil terminal in Crimea, which reportedly caught fire, damaging several storage tanks. The consequences of these operations highlight the strategic effectiveness of Ukraine’s tactical strikes against Russian oil infrastructure.
