Today's Ukrainian strike on the Moscow oil refinery needs to be viewed not as a single attack at one more Russian oil refinery but as part of a systemic Ukrainian campaign against Moscow's fuel infrastructure - Ukrainian expert Serhii Misiura.
Ukrainian strikes within the last month happened in various places across Russia: ports, reservoir parks, oil depots, export infrastructure, objects in Crimea, in the Baltics and the south of Russia. Although pressure on Russia's oil industry in general is necessary and a positive event, the main goal is now seen more clearly: Moscow.
Strikes on Volodarskaya Line Production and Dispatch Station, Solnechnogorsk Oil Pumping Station and the Moscow oil refinery essentially became the turning point in this campaign. The target is Moscow Ring Oil Product Pipeline, a unique pipeline system more than 400 km long that provides Moscow with fuel.
Moscow oil refinery is one of the key objects of this system. It refines over 10 million tons of oil per year and covers up to 70% of Moscow and Moscow region's needs for fuel. The refinery controls about 35-40% of Moscow's fuel market. Basically, about 30% of cars in Moscow use gas or diesel from this plant.
The Moscow Ring Oil Product Pipeline is also crucial for aviation - it is used to deliver fuel to the largest airports in the area, including Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports. Any disruptions in the system create additional risks for all logistics in the region (and it's important to note that many Russian cargo routes go through Moscow airports).
Moscow's oil ring is not autonomous. It depends on supplies from large oil refineries and external pumping stations. Hence, Ukrainian strikes on various oil infrastructure objects in different regions of Russia are starting to form a clear picture. Ukraine is executing consistent and systemic pressure on critical supply nodes of the Russian oil infrastructure.
If the Ukrainian strategy continues, for Russia, this will mean not just problems with oil exports or fuel shortages in the Russian regions - this will directly influence Moscow city.
Source: Serhii Misiura/Facebook
More footage of the Moscow oil refinery in Kapotnya, one of the top 10 refineries in Russia.
It's a strategically important object as it supplies about 40% of petroleum products for Moscow metropolitan area.
The oil refinery is supposed to provide full independence to Moscow metropolitan area, including fuel needed by local airports.
It is a heavily defended object due to its strategic significance.