Why does Ukraine importing oil from India ? Do they still has refineries, but war has crippled Ukraine oil refineries capacity, forcing heavy reliance on imports and foreign diesel/petrol.

 Ukraine Oil Refineries 2025: Why Capacity is Severely Impacted

Yes Ukraine Still Has Refineries—but Their Operations Are Severely Disrupted (2025)

You might be wondering: does Ukraine still have oil refineries? The answer is yes—but they are functioning at a fraction of what they used to. Due to war damage, supply issues, and attacks on infrastructure, Ukraine can’t meet its fuel demands as before. Let’s walk through how things were, what happened, and where things stand now—using simple language, real examples, and even a metaphor to make the scale clear.

1. Pre-war refinery landscape in Ukraine

Before the war erupted in full force, Ukraine had a reasonably strong refining industry. It had about 6–8 major refineries scattered mostly in central, eastern, and western parts of the country. Among them were Kremenchug (central Ukraine), Lisichansk in the east, Naftokhimik Prykarpattya in the west, plus facilities in Kherson, Lviv, and a few others. These refineries together were able to produce enough petrol, diesel, heating oil and so on both for home use and for modest exports.

2. Kremenchug Refinery: Ukraine’s Largest Plant

Kremenchug was the crown jewel. With about 18 million tons per year capacity, it was the biggest, supplying a significant chunk of petc­rol and diesel across Ukraine. In peacetime, it served as a backbone: think of it as the heart pumping fuel through the national bloodstream.

3. Other major refineries: Lisichansk, Kherson, Lviv, Prykarpattya

The others weren’t small. Lisichansk in the east, and Naftokhimik Prykarpattya in the west (Prykarpattya meaning “near the Carpathians”) handled regional supply. Lviv and Kherson refineries handled local needs and also helped manage transportation to neighbouring areas. Each had different capacities and strengths, but together they formed a network.

4. Role of these refineries before the war

So what did this network do?

1. They met domestic fuel demand—for vehicles, heating, industry.
2. They exported a small surplus, especially diesel and petrol.
3. They reduced dependency on imported fuel, keeping prices somewhat stable.
4. They employed thousands, supporting local economies.

In short: they were part of daily life—almost invisible in their importance until they stopped working properly.

5. Russian attacks: what was damaged and when

Then came the war and with it deliberate attacks.

1. June 2025 was a turning point: the Kremenchug refinery was destroyed. Its damage was catastrophic.
2. Other refin­eries in eastern and south­ern Ukraine suffered partial damage—shelling, drone strikes, missile attacks took out units, pipelines, storage tanks.

This wasn’t just collateral damage—it was infrastructure targeting, aiming to cut fuel supply.

Advertisement:

 🎉 Scan & Compare the best deals on ✈️ Flights, 🏨 Hotels, and 🚘 Car rentals from thousands of travel providers — all in one place!

💰 Find the lowest fares and book smarter.

👉 Use our Travel Scanner Tool to compare and save on travel tickets.

👉Visit  www.walletflights.com

6. Shelling, drones, and supply chain disruptions

Even where the refineries weren’t destroyed, their operations have still been hit by:

1. ongoing shelling and drone attacks, which force shutdowns, damage equipment, and make it unsafe for workers;
2. supply chain breakdowns: spare parts, crude feedstock, transportation (roads, rail) getting bombed or blocked;
3. fuel for refining itself: sometimes getting crude to processing plants is nearly impossible.

Imagine a complex machine where every gear must work—and if just one is broken, the whole thing slows, or grinds to a halt.

7. Workforce, safety, and operational challenges

It’s not just buildings and machines. People matter—and war is hard on workers.

1. Many skilled workers have fled or been displaced.
2. Others are staying but working under constant threat—air raid alarms, shelling.
3. Safety becomes a major concern: fire risk, damage, environmental hazards.
4. Maintenance has lagged because of lack of supplies and damage.

All this reduces how much refineries can run—not because they don’t want to, but because they literally can’t.

Read more:- Discover top countries with major oil refineries in 2025—where crude oil is refined into fuels like diesel, petrol, jet fuel, and exported worldwide.

Read more :- Russia is seeking a skilled workforce from India. Learn about visa types, quota system, skills in demand, qualifications, and application steps.

8. Current production vs. capacity

So how much can they produce now, vs. what they used to?

1. The total output is far below pre-war levels.
2. Some smaller refineries are still operational but running at reduced capacity — often 20-50% of what they could do before.
3. Kremenchug being destroyed removes its full 18 million tons/year, which is a large chunk of national refining power.

In effect: Ukraine has refineries, yes—but many are like half-alive, limping along where they once sprinted.

9. Imports: from India and others

Enter imports.

1. Because domestic supply has collapsed, Ukraine now imports most of its diesel and petrol.
2. India has become a major supplier, stepping in to fill the gaps.
3. Other countries also help, though volumes and cost vary depending on shipping, price, and geopolitical factors.

10. Alternative import routes: Romania, Turkey, neighbouring states

How do imports physically arrive? Ukraine uses alternate routes:

1. Through Romania: over land and via pipelines or shipping across the Black Sea.
2. Via Turkey: shipping routes to ports, then land transport.
3. Neighbouring countries (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, etc.) also serve as corridors or transit points.

These routes are sometimes slower or more expensive—but they’re lifelines.

11. Domestic fuel shortages and public impact

What does this mean for people?

1. Fuel prices have risen sharply.
2. Petrol stations sometimes run out of diesel.
3. Industries that depend on fuel (transport, agriculture, generators) suffer delays, higher costs.
4. Heating and daily life can be affected, especially in areas further from import routes.

It’s a ripple effect: broken refinery → less fuel → everyone feels it in pocket and routines.

12. Government and international support to rebuild

Ukraine isn’t sitting idle.

1. The government is exploring ways to repair damaged refineries and upgrade them to withstand future attacks.
2. International aid and finance are being offered for reconstruction of energy infrastructure.
3. Some private investors are considering rebuilding or building smaller, modular refineries.
4. Focus is also on diversifying supply and increasing storage capacity to mitigate future shocks.

13. Outlook for refinery restoration

What might happen in the coming years?

1. Some refineries may be fully restored, but it will take time, money, security guarantees.
2. New design features may include better protection, decentralisation, modular resilience.
3. Fuel import dependence will likely continue for a while—but maybe less so as operations improve.
4. Technology transfers, training of staff, and support from allies will matter greatly.

14. Why “Ukraine oil refineries” matter for global energy

This isn’t just a local issue.

1. Ukraine is a key transit country for energy in Eastern Europe, so disruptions can send shockwaves (fuel price spikes, trade issues).
2. Global markets notice when refinery output drops in a country of Ukraine’s size.
3. Dependence on imports from distant suppliers increases shipping costs, and that often reflects in international fuel prices.

So people in many countries have a stake in how Ukraine addresses this.

15. Conclusion: the gap remains large

In short: Ukraine still has refinery infrastructure, but its capacity has been severely impacted by war. Many plants are damaged, others operate well below previous levels. Fuel imports—especially diesel and petrol from India and elsewhere—have had to make up the shortfall. Alternate import routes via neighbouring countries are carrying more of the load than before. Rebuilding will take time, resources, and stability. The country and its people are doing what they can—but the gap between need and supply remains large.

FAQs

1. Can Ukraine’s destroyed refineries be fully rebuilt, and how long would that take?
Yes, but it’ll take years. Reconstruction depends on restoring basic infrastructure (roads, electricity, water), repairing or replacing damaged equipment, and ensuring security. With sufficient funding and peace, some refineries might be operational in 2-5 years; full capacity restoration may take longer.

2. Why is India a major supplier of diesel to Ukraine?
India has large refining capacity, surplus production, and has been willing to export fuel at competitive prices. Because Ukraine’s local production is down, it needs reliable external sources—and India fits that role. Also, shipping routes and global trade agreements make it feasible.

3. Are there environmental risks associated with operating damaged refineries during war?
Definitely. Broken pipelines, damaged units, or makeshift repairs can lead to leaks, fires, pollution. Worker safety is at risk. Civilian areas near damaged refineries can be exposed to hazardous substances. Environmental concerns usually take a backseat during urgent war needs—but they are real and severe.

4. How do import routes through Romania, Turkey, and neighbours work, and are they secure?
These routes use a combination of maritime shipping (Black Sea), land transport (road, rail), and sometimes pipelines. Security is mixed: some routes are safer than others; attacks or blockades may disrupt parts. The farther fuel must travel, the higher the cost and delay—so reliability matters a lot.

5. Will Ukraine rely on imports forever, or can they reduce dependence?
While imports are essential now, Ukraine aims to reduce dependence over time by repairing and upgrading its refineries, increasing domestic production, investing in alternative energy where possible, and diversifying supply sources. But back to full self-reliance is unlikely in the short term without major investment and peace.

Post no : 549

Ukraine oil refineries 2025

Ukraine refinery capacity impact

Kremenchug refinery destruction

Ukraine fuel supply disruption

Ukrainian oil refining industry

Lisichansk refinery Ukraine

Naftokhimik Prykarpattya refinery

Kherson and Lviv refineries

War damage to Ukrainian refineries