re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Russia Hit with Unexpected Headache from Oil Refinery Attacks
Published May 10, 2024 at 5:29 AM EDT

Russian workers are quitting their jobs at oil refineries en masse over safety fears amid a spate of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting President Vladimir Putin's energy infrastructure, according to a report.

A former employee at the Kuibyshev Refinery, which is one of the largest oil industry enterprises in the Samara region, and owned by Rosneft, the country's largest oil producer, said he and many others resigned after the facility was attacked by Ukrainian drones in late March.

The Kuibyshev refinery halted all production after it sustained damage in the attack, Reuters reported at the time, noting that around 14 percent of Russia's refining capacity had been shut down by drone attacks.

Ukraine has been attacking Russian energy infrastructure facilities to target Putin's oil industry, the cornerstone of his country's economy. Moscow depends on its oil exports and energy industry, which make up some 30 percent of the country's budget revenues and are crucial for the funding of the war in Ukraine. Newsweek has contacted Russia's Foreign Ministry for comment by email.

Newsweek