Ukraine has intensified its drone attacks on Russian oil refineries, disrupting Russia's fuel supply and weakening its economy, which, combined with costly Russian military efforts that yield limited gains, is shifting leverage in favor of Ukraine in ongoing peace negotiations.
U.S. sanctions have hindered Russian efforts to repair refineries, as Lukoil's largest refinery struggles to fix a broken gasoline unit due to the withdrawal of American company UOP, resulting in a 40% cut in gasoline production. Ukrainian drone attacks have also damaged dozens of Russian plants, exacerbating the industry's challenges. Western companies like UOP and ABB have historically supplied technology and software to Russian refineries, but have ceased operations in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. The situation has led to potential fuel shortages and significant financial losses for Russian oil firms.