The Kremlin on Thursday said it does not see a risk to Russia's overall fuel supplies even as reports emerged of reduced oil refining in parts of the country's central regions following recent drone attacks attributed to Ukraine.
Speaking at a daily briefing, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that while refinery output could fall in certain areas, that trend is not solely attributable to the reported strikes. He pointed to routine seasonal maintenance as another factor behind any decline in production.
"No, the Kremlin does not see such risks. Indeed, production may be reduced in some regions. This, by the way, is also due to seasonal maintenance," Peskov said. He added that authorities have calculated the fuel balance and that it includes a system to compensate for disruptions.
The statements come amid a stepped-up campaign of Ukrainian drone attacks on energy infrastructure inside Russia. Russian officials, through social media posts, say the number of oil refineries targeted has doubled since the start of the year.
Among the facilities identified by Russian sources as having been targeted are the Kirishi refinery in western Russia, the Moscow oil refinery, and plants located in Nizhny Novgorod on the Volga river, Ryazan, and Yaroslavl. On Thursday, Ukrainian military sources and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Ukrainian drones struck the Rosneft-owned Syzran oil refinery in the Samara region overnight.
The Kremlin's public remarks emphasize a mix of operational and planning responses - acknowledging localized output reductions while asserting that broader supply metrics and compensatory arrangements limit the prospect of widespread fuel shortages. The comments do not provide specific production figures or timelines for any recovery in affected facilities.
Summary
The Kremlin has stated there is no nationwide risk to fuel supplies despite reports of reduced refining in central Russia. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov cited seasonal maintenance alongside possible localized production cuts and said a calculated fuel balance includes compensation measures. Ukrainian drone strikes have reportedly targeted multiple refineries, and Ukrainian officials claimed an overnight strike on the Syzran refinery.