Moscow oil refinery to remain offline until 2027 after Ukrainian drone strikes, worsening Russian fuel shortages

Following Ukrainian drone strikes in June 2026, the Gazprom Neft-operated Moscow oil refinery will remain offline for at least six months, worsening Russian fuel shortages. With domestic gasoline prices up 6.6% in 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that Russia is considering a diesel export ban and fuel imports. Amid the escalating energy conflict, President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness for peace talks, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered preemptive strikes on Russian war facilities.

Ukrainian drone strikes oil refineries

• ▪The Moscow oil refinery processed 11.6 million metric tons of oil in 2024, producing 2.9 million tons of gasoline and 3.2 million tons of diesel
• ▪The Gazprom Neft-operated Moscow oil refinery is expected to remain offline for at least six months following Ukrainian drone strikes in June 2026
• ▪Ukrainian drone strikes on June 16 and June 18, 2026, damaged distillation units accounting for the entire capacity of the Moscow oil refinery
• ▪Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have caused fuel shortages, rising prices, and fuel rationing in several Russian regions

Russian diesel export ban

• ▪Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced on June 23, 2026, that Russia is considering a ban on diesel exports to help the domestic market
• ▪Russian oil companies have delayed scheduled refinery maintenance and are utilizing untapped fuel reserves to meet domestic demand
• ▪Russian officials are considering importing fuel to address shortages, particularly in Crimea where public gasoline sales have been suspended

Putin proposes Istanbul peace talks

• ▪Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on June 23, 2026, that Russia is ready for peace negotiations with Ukraine based on prior Istanbul agreements
• ▪Ukrainian UN envoy Andrii Melnyk warned that Kyiv could reconsider its ceasefire proposal without a meaningful international push to end the war

Trump cabinet insults Zelensky

• ▪Donald Trump praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as courageous and stated that Zelensky is holding his own in the war
• ▪A book reports that United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a special-needs child for the Europeans

Belarus disables drone relay stations

• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russian drone signal relay stations in Belarus stopped operating on June 22, 2026
• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed military and intelligence services to conduct preemptive attacks on Russian facilities supporting the war effort