Ukrainian Drone Strike Forces Shutdown of Russia’s Major Gas Processing Plant
ORENBURG, Russia – A Ukrainian drone strike has forced a shutdown, at least partial, of Russia’s largest gas processing plant, located in the Orenburg region.The facility, with an annual processing capacity of approximately 45 billion cubic meters, handles gas from both the Orenburg oil and gas field and Kazakhstan’s Karachaganak field.
It remains unclear whether the entire plant is offline or only the section processing fuel from Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan’s energy ministry confirmed it was notified of the emergency and damage but received no details from Gazprom regarding the extent of the damage or a timeline for repairs.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported intercepting at least 45 Ukrainian drones overnight, including one in the Orenburg region, as part of a larger assault. The attack aimed to cripple Russia’s energy sector and its ability to fund its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The assault on Russia’s energy infrastructure has contributed to a important decline in Moscow’s fossil fuel exports, reaching their lowest level since the start of the war nearly four years ago. In September 2024, Russia exported an average of $637 million of fuel per day – a 4% decrease from August and a 26% drop from September 2023, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
At least 18 Russian oil facilities have been targeted since the summer, including a key oil terminal in Crimea where drone strikes halted crude oil production.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to continue targeting Russian energy infrastructure, stating that attacks on refineries, depots, and terminals are “the most effective sanctions - the ones that work the fastest.” He also called for a complete cessation of Russian energy purchases by Western nations,stating,”There should be zero Russian energy in Europe.” Zelensky highlighted the United States’ readiness to supply alternative gas and oil sources to Europe, emphasizing the region’s potential to contribute to energy independence.
