According to OilPrice, approximately 135 million barrels of Russian crude oil are currently piling up offshore due to sustained Ukrainian drone campaigns targeting the nation's refining infrastructure. Recent strikes on key facilities including Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat and the Afipsky refinery have disabled roughly one-third of Russia's crude processing capacity, forcing the Kremlin to accelerate export volumes in an attempt to clear the backlog.
The attacks have reduced Russia's refining output to approximately 3.91 million barrels per day—its lowest level since 2005, according to available data. This deterioration in domestic processing has created a supply-demand imbalance that has cascading effects throughout Russia's energy infrastructure and export strategy. The inability to process crude domestically has compelled Moscow to seek alternative markets for unrefined crude oil exports.
The situation underscores the vulnerability of Russia's energy sector to precision strikes on industrial targets. As Ukraine continues its campaign against refining facilities, the accumulating inventory at sea presents both a logistical challenge and a financial burden for Russian producers navigating international sanctions and maritime restrictions.
