Ukrainian Drones Have Caused Russian Diesel Exports To Plummet By More Than 75%

• 22.10.2026, 17:28

The fuel shortage is dragging on, despite the "diesel deal."

Attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russian oil refineries and fuel infrastructure have reduced diesel exports from Russia by more than 75%. In September, shipments fell to 141,000 barrels per day, compared with 608,000 barrels per day in the same month last year. This complicates the implementation of the agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin to increase fuel supplies to the global market, writes CNBC.

According to the analytical firm Rochan Consulting, the number of attacks on Russian oil refineries and related infrastructure rose from 11 in January to 31 in July.

Ukraine is launching hundreds of drones in a single operation and is striking targets deep inside Russian territory. In addition, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have learned to attack complex refinery equipment, the repair of which requires months and shipments from abroad.

“You can’t just order this kind of equipment on Alibaba,” explained Tatyana Mitrova, an expert on the Russian oil industry at Columbia University.

In July, Moscow banned diesel exports to preserve supplies for the domestic market, and in October, it partially resumed shipments. However, the promised volumes—75,000 barrels per day in October and 124,000 in November—are small compared to global demand.

The situation is exacerbated by disruptions in fuel supplies from the Middle East. As a result, global diesel supplies have fallen by approximately one million barrels per day. According to AAA, the average price of diesel in the U.S. reached $6.32 per gallon on Tuesday—nearly 75% higher than a year earlier. The International Energy Agency expects the diesel shortage to persist until at least 2027.