Putin in Mongolia – UAV in Moscow

We were told that a Ukrainian UAV hit a separate technical facility at the Moscow Oil Refinery, and nothing serious happened.

It turns out that a UAV strike in Moscow is such a trivial event that it doesn’t warrant much attention.

Now, what exactly is the “separate technical facility” mentioned by Moscow Mayor Sobyanin? It’s none other than the “Euro+” unit, which accounts for about half of the plant’s capacity. This is one of the critical components in the complex technological system of oil processing. The “Euro+” unit is the most modern at the facility, having started operations in 2019. It turns out that the UAV operators knew exactly where to hit, unlike the air defense systems, which missed entirely.

The current installed capacity of the Moscow Oil Refinery is 11 million tons of oil per year. It is the most compact refinery of such capacity, covering just 284 hectares.

The Moscow Oil Refinery holds a 35% share of the capital’s fuel market. The plant supplies 40% of Moscow’s gasoline needs and 50% of its diesel fuel, and is the primary supplier of fuel for the city’s airports. Every third car in Moscow is fueled with gasoline from this refinery. Bitumen from the Moscow Oil Refinery is used in the construction and repair of every second street in the capital.

Following the strike and the subsequent fire, the plant suspended operations at the oil processing unit. The fire was extinguished relatively quickly, but restarting the unit won’t be easy. Although there are promises that repairs will be completed by the end of the week.

Given previous statements, the promise to finish repairs in five to six days raises serious doubts about the plan’s feasibility.

In theory, all media outlets should be focusing on the UAV strike in the capital and questioning the effectiveness of the air defense systems that are supposed to protect Moscow’s airspace.

In reality, the media are currently discussing Putin’s visit to Mongolia, how he is being welcomed by the descendants of Genghis Khan on horseback. What’s actually interesting is not the visit itself or its foreign policy implications, but the fact that Mongolia refused to arrest Vladimir Putin as a war criminal under the ICC warrant. Propagandists are presenting this as a great diplomatic victory.