Russia says shielding refineries from drones is costly but pays off amid fuel shortages

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that defending oil refineries against drone attacks requires substantial spending, but the cost is justified given the scale of losses that would result from halted production, according to the state news agency TASS.

Novak explained that refinery owners are responsible for providing so-called "passive protection" at their facilities, working in coordination with the Defense Ministry and the National Guard. He claimed that Russia's level of protection for its refineries is comparable to that of the United Arab Emirates, adding that months of accumulated experience may have made Russian defenses even more effective.

According to Novak, no energy facility has so far been placed under external management for failing to provide sufficient protection. He described a related presidential decree not as a punitive measure but as an incentive meant to push private companies toward more active and consistent involvement in securing their own sites.

Novak also acknowledged that routine refinery maintenance, typically scheduled for the summer months, has been postponed in order to keep fuel production at maximum levels.

Over recent months, Ukrainian forces have carried out drone strikes on all of Russia's largest oil refineries by processing capacity, contributing to gasoline shortages across the country.