Ukraine’s orchestrated attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure seem to be having an effect.
Russian fossil fuel exports plummeted in the month of September, dipping to their lowest point since the start of Moscow’s nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine.
The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air claims its figures indicate Russia exported an average of $637 million of fuel a day last month — a 4% slip from August, and a 26% drop from oil exports recorded in September 2024.
Eighteen Russian oil facilities have been targeted in recent months, with drones taking out a key oil terminal in Crimea, halting crude oil production.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this month he plans to continue the drone bombardment of Russia’s crude oil refineries, depots and terminals, calling such attacks “the most effective sanctions — the ones that work the fastest.”
Russian oil infrastructure continues to fuel Russian strongman Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
The oil hub at the port of Primorsk was also set ablaze by Kyiv drones on Sept. 12. The next evening, they also struck the Kirishi refinery — one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, located in the northwestern Leningrad region — sparking a massive blaze.
And as recently as Oct. 15, a drone struck an industrial zone in Ufa, disabling the Ufaorgsintez oil refinery.
China was the largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in August, spending $6.4 billion, with India buying up $4.2 billion worth of barrels, according to reports.
President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports in August, after accusing the nation of sustaining Russia’s war through energy trade.
NATO member Turkey imported $2.79 billion worth of Russian fossil fuels during August, with Hungary and Slovakia importing $421 million and $222 million in oil and liquefied natural gas, respectively.
Trump had asked NATO members to stop from purchasing Russian oil last month during his UN address.
This week, the EU Committees on Industry, Research and Energy and on International Trade signed off on a draft proposal that would gradually ban pipeline and LNG imports from Russia beginning on Jan. 1, 2026.