Drone attacks on Russian refineries and chemical plants

Aside the frequent drone attacks on Russian refineries, which are affecting Russian fuel supplies, chemical plants are also suffering attacks and particularly those considered to be directly part of the supply chain for the Russian military.  Plants producing explosives, such as at Bryansk and Sverdlov, have suffered several drone attacks in 2025. 

In the second half of the year petrochemical plants have started to experience an increased number of attacks.  Stavrolen was the latest petrochemical plant to suffer drone strikes, firstly on 29 October and secondly on 12 November which was reported to be more successful and may have affected production.  The plant produces polymers for manufacturing composite materials, body parts, seals, and insulation for various types of Russian military equipment.  Among other things, it also produces components for UAVs.  SIBUR-Kstovo was hit on 4 November at the same time as the Lukoil refinery at Kstovo.

Kstovo suffered a large-scale attack on 4 November, affecting both the Lukoil refinery and the SIBUR-Kstovo petrochemical plant.  Lukoil’s refinery at the site has been struck several times whilst it is the second time that SIBUR-Kstovo had come under fire and suffered damage.  Also, on the same night as Kstovo, the Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant (which produces synthetic rubber and antioxidants) following a drone attack on the Stavrolen petrochemical plant at the end of October.  Some of these attacks have been merely symbolic but for most there has been some repair work required.  Gazprom neftekhim Salavat had resumed full activity a month after it had been attacked in mid-September. 

Russian petrochemical production Jan-Sep 2025

Statistically Russian petrochemical production appears relatively stable in terms of ethylene and propylene production, both of which were slightly down in the first three quarters in 2025.   The fuel crisis in Russia which has been caused by drone strikes on refineries has impacted in the benzene-styrene chain.  Benzene production fell from 1.019 million tons in January to September last year to 944,814 tons in January to September 2025.   Ethylbenzene production dropped from 641,937 tons to 571,895 tons, whilst toluene fell from 292,982 tons to 241,982 tons.

Russian polymer production Jan-Sep 2025

Russian production of plastics in primary forms decreased declined by 1.4% in the first nine months inof 2025, amounting to totalling 6.309 million tons.  ProductionOutput has remained relatively stable on the basis of due to sustained export activity to China. The domestic Russian market in Russia was rising sharplyexperienced significant growth in 2023 and 2024, when Russia’s during the peak of the country’s militarized economy was at its peak, but now ; but demand is gradually weakening.   Pressures are mounting from different anglesnow stagnating.  Multiple pressures have emerged, including latedelayed payments and higher rising production costs.  Polyolefin production has risen slightly this year but there was a slowdown in the third quarter.  whilst the production of polymersSynthetic   Production of synthetic rubber production in amounted065 million tons, up from 1.in January to September   The production of synthetic rubber increasedincreased despite the decline in decreased consumption inwithin the domestic tyretire industry and was thus almost exclusively fuelledprimarily driven by increased higher exports to China.   

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