Fuel supplies to the Russian military have been restored despite the country’s oil refining infrastructure being repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks in recent weeks, Moscow’s leadership said.
Speaking to Russia's Interfax news agency on September 11, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov affirmed that "there is nothing to worry about" about this issue.
“Thanks to defense mechanisms, air defense, such massive attacks had minimal impact,” Peskov said, adding that measures were being taken to minimize the impact of attacks on energy supplies.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov speaks to the media on the sidelines of an event in Moscow, April 2024. Photo: Getty Images
Russia's Defense Ministry said on September 12 that it had destroyed two Ukrainian drones targeting Russia's Belgorod and Kursk regions as attacks continued in the south of the country, while oil refineries up to 1,300 km from the Ukrainian frontline have been hit before.
A 240,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Moscow was attacked on September 1, shutting down the Euro+ complex. Market sources expect operations at the plant to resume on September 16. Meanwhile, fuel storage facilities near the front line have been hit, in some cases leaving raging fires for weeks.
Although Russia has downplayed the impact of such drone attacks, Moscow took steps to secure domestic supplies in August when a ban on petroleum exports was extended until the end of the year.
Gasoline prices have eased from near-record highs hit in the summer of 2023, led by a drop in premium unleaded gasoline in recent weeks.
Prices for the fuel remained high throughout the summer, but have fallen since August after the Norsi refinery, which produces 11% of Russia’s gasoline, restarted its FCC and reforming units and Russia’s close ally Belarus increased gasoline supplies on the St. Petersburg exchange, S&P Global reported on September 12, citing market sources.
The Russian government has not imposed restrictions on its larger diesel export market, which was subject to similar measures last year.
Speaking at a meeting in the Kremlin on September 11, Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut said farmers were fully supplied with fuel and prices were stable, in contrast to the situation last year when a pre-harvest price spike triggered an export ban.
Despite the harsh weather, Russia is expected to harvest 132 million tonnes of grain this year, down from 148 million tonnes in 2023, including 72 million tonnes of wheat, Lut said. Harvesting has been completed on about 70% of the cultivated land, the agriculture minister said.
Minh Duc (According to S&P Global)
Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/bi-uav-tap-kich-co-so-ha-tang-nang-luong-nga-noi-khong-co-gi-dang-lo-ngai-204240913202039047.htm
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