Russia shuts down Orsk refinery, will have to import fuel

Orsk refinery shuts down and Russia turns to imported fuel

A Ukrainian drone attack has managed to halt one of Russia's largest refineries. The Orsk plant, in the Orenburg region, has suspended operations, and governor Yevgeny Solntsev has admitted it: "The plant has been completely shut down. We are preparing for the worst-case scenario." Russian media are already talking about depending on imported fuel.

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Six months of repairs and a problem with imported equipment

The damage is not just the drone: according to the governor, repairs will take up to six months because of the difficulty of replacing foreign equipment. An oil-producing country without spare parts is the irony that haunts the Russian economy. The authorities are already restructuring fuel logistics, which is the official way of saying fuel will have to be bought abroad.

The puzzling figure: GDP up and petrol at 68 rubles

Against the backdrop of the Orsk shutdown stands the official reading: Russian GDP is growing by more than 1% this quarter and a litre of petrol in Moscow costs 68 rubles, about 0.70 euros. "The more refineries blown up, the lower the price of petrol," mock those who see the hand of propaganda. The other camp argues the problem is minor compared with the destruction Russia is inflicting on Ukraine.

And what about Pilingui?

No analysis quite fits the pieces together. Some say Pilingui keeps the war going because his pride has trapped him; others speculate about a strike in autumn with non-conventional weapons. Neither claim is confirmed. What remains is a country with one of its key refineries out of action for six months and growth that, according to the official narrative, is unmoved. Something doesn't add up.