Mar. 26 — Russia lost at least 40% of its oil export capacity because of Ukrainian drone attacks, seizure of tankers, and damage to the major Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia, said Reuters.

Journalists calculated that a 40% loss in Russian oil exports is around 2 million barrels per day, and that it hit Russia just as oil prices exceeded $100 a barrel due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

In March, Ukraine increased its drone attacks on Russian export oil infrastructure and damaged three major Russian ports: Novorossiysk on the Black ​Sea and Primorsk and Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea. Ukraine has also launched strikes against Russian oil pumping stations and refineries.

“Kyiv has also targeted pipeline oil ​pumping stations and refineries. Kyiv says it aims to diminish Moscow’s oil and gas revenue, which accounts ​for around a quarter of Russia’s state budget, and weaken its military might,” said Reuters.

In early March, Ukrainian drones attacked an oil terminal in Novorossiysk, causing it to now ship oil at a lesser rate than normal 700,000 barrels per day.

Reuters reported, citing traders, that repeated seizures of tankers linked to Russia in Europe have disrupted the supply of 300,000 barrels per day of Arctic oil from the Murmansk port. 

Ukraine said that Russian strikes in late January damaged part of the Druzhba oil pipeline, while Slovakia and Hungary demanded that Kyiv immediately resume supplies.

Russia continues to supply oil to China via pipelines and through Kozmino port. Combined, these routes account for approximately 1.9 million barrels per day in exports, Reuters reported.

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