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Moscow Refinery Hit as Russia Reports Largest Drone Attack

  • The Moscow Oil Refinery was hit during drone attacks that were part of the largest Ukrainian barrage this year.
  • Russia’s Defense Ministry said it downed 1,110 Ukrainian drones across 19 regions of Russia as well as in Crimea.
  • The refinery strike damaged a facility at the site, with the Ukrainian General Staff saying the AVT-6 primary crude oil distillation unit and other units were hit, and large fires were recorded at the facility.

The Moscow Oil Refinery was hit during drone attacks that were part of the largest overnight Ukrainian barrage this year, as Russia entered the final day of voting in its parliamentary elections. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it downed 1,110 Ukrainian drones across 19 regions of Russia as well as in Crimea, which the Kremlin annexed in 2014. That’s the largest overnight total reported so far this year, eclipsing the previous high of 822 in August. The ministry said its air defenses brought down eight Ukrainian Flamingo missiles and 1,951 drones over the past day, the Interfax news service reported. Several drones struck the territory of the Moscow refinery, damaging a facility at the site, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, without elaborating. Nobody was hurt and emergency services were working at the scene, he said in a post on Telegram. Oil producer Gazprom Neft PJSC owns the refinery, located about 25 kilometers (16 miles) from the Kremlin. It has a processing capacity of about 245,000 barrels a day and is one of the key fuel suppliers for the capital region.

The refinery’s AVT-6 primary crude oil distillation unit, the integrated crude oil processing unit and the isomerization unit were hit during the attack, and large fires were recorded at the facility, the Ukrainian General Staff said in a post on Facebook. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a Pelican ballistic missile was involved in the attacks, the first publicly confirmed combat use of the system. Its manufacturer Fire Point puts the missile’s range at only 200 kilometers on its website, though, and it was unclear from Zelenskyy’s post what part it played and where.The strikes on the Moscow area, including on the refinery and a logistics center, had “very significant impact,” Zelenskyy said on X. The attacks took place as Russia holds the third and final day of voting in its first parliamentary elections since President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Sobyanin said 152 drones targeted Moscow overnight in what he called an “unprecedented” assault involving more than 1,600 unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day aimed at the capital. Most were downed by air defenses, he said. The attack “was clearly planned with the aim of disrupting the elections,” Sobyanin said. Turnout had reached 47.95% shortly before noon in Moscow on Sunday, state-run Tass news service reported, citing Russia’s central election commission

. The refinery strike was the latest indication that neither Ukraine nor Russia has signed up to an energy truce that US President Donald Trump claimed on Sept. 14 had been agreed with the warring sides as global diesel prices surge.

The Moscow refinery was previously damaged in June during a record drone attack on the capital, sending plumes of black smoke across the region and contributing to fuel shortages in Russia. While Moscow is protected by some of Russia’s most advanced air-defense systems, recent large-scale drone attacks have exposed the limits of even layered defenses. Most are intercepted, though some still manage to strike targets. Ukraine’s Air Forces said Russia carried out attacks overnight with 138 drones, half of them jet-powered. Air defenses destroyed 101 drones, it said Sunday in a Telegram post. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram that it struck a warehouse outside Kyiv storing components for drones made by Fire Point, as well as a Nova Poshta logistics center near the Black Sea port of Odesa, and a cargo ship used to deliver military goods.

NN: I guess  Ukraine did not get the Trump memo about not attacking oil infrastructure
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Trump said to call off strikes on Houthis for now TACO…Again!

United States President Donald Trump decided not to go ahead with the plan to launch large-scale strikes against Yemeni Houthis for now, after being cautioned by allies that it would risk opening another front in the Middle East, the New York Times reported. According to the report, Trump (TACO)  vacillated between ordering the strikes and avoiding confrontation for the past few weeks, as Houthis made rapid advances against Saudi-backed forces, gained full control over the Bab el-Mandeb strait, and launched missile strikes on the kingdom’s oil infrastructure. Moreover, Trump is alleged to have received a direct phone call from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, asking him to intervene in the conflict. However, the US leader had told his aides the day before that he did not favor strikes, but then changed his mind and instructed the Pentagon to prepare for military action. Another turn of events came on Sunday when Trump reversed his decision and called off the airstrikes at the last moment.

The White House declined to comment.

TACO

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Oil falls 2% with Saudi export recovery in focus

 

Crude oil prices fell on Monday as traders monitored the potential recovery of Saudi oil shipments following missile and drone attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces on Saturday. JPMorgan analysts said in a September 18 note that Middle East oil flows remained “surprisingly strong” despite disruption to Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, while US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper said oil and liquefied natural gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz over the past two weeks had reached their highest level in six months, seemingly shaking supply fears off. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for October’s settlements slumped by 2.05% at 12:55 am ET to $98.24 per barrel. Simultaneously, Brent for November’s deliveries decreased by 2.04% to $101.75 per barrel.

 

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Iran claims US is planning new military actions…. US strategic bombers said to have taken off from UK

The Iranian Armed Forces’ Central Command stated that it received information about the United States planning to resume its “actions” against Iran, and warned that Tehran will retaliate, Iran’s state media outlet IRIB News reported on Sunday. “We warn that if the US commits any act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, all of its bases and interests in the region will be subjected to sustained, effective and painful attacks, without any restrictions or consideration,” the Iranian military said, claiming that the US received a “green light” for its plans from the countries in the region at a joint meeting in a European country. The military’s Central Command also warned regional countries that if they “continue their dual policy” towards Iran, they will be considered “complicit” and should not expect “restraint or decency” from Iran’s Armed Forces.

US strategic bombers said to have taken off from UK

US strategic B-1 bombers have taken off from their bases in the United Kingdom after midnight on Sunday, local time, as tensions in the Middle East rose again amid the Saudi Arabia-Houthi conflict and the standoff with Iran. According to footage that surfaced online, the bombers were spotted departing the runway at RAF Fairford in southern England, but their destination remained unknown. Earlier, the US State Department issued alerts for multiple countries across the Middle East, warning of a potential escalation of hostilities involving Houthis and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump appeared to cut short his stay at Camp David and headed back to Washington DC.

NN: Something is up. See Trade Reco calm Before the storm

 

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Trump signs Russia sanctions bill into law

United States President Donald Trump signed into law the Russian sanctions bill sponsored by late Senator from South Carolina Lindsay Graham. The legislation allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil, with China and India poised to feel the biggest impact, as both nations continue to import large quantities of crude oil from Moscow. Additionally, the bill further tightens sanctions on Iran’s energy and weapons industries. Graham, who died suddenly in July shortly after his trip to Ukraine, had been one of the most vocal proponents of increasing sanctions pressure on Russia, seeking to coerce Moscow into ending the long-standing conflict.

NN: Here is the problem. The bill gives Trump powerful tools to shut down Russian oil income. The question is will the TACO TAKE OVER and he does nothing
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Europe is Running Out Of Crude Oil….. France Calls for Release From Dwindling Emergency Stockpile

French President Emmanuel Macron is calling the G7 back to the table to discuss another release of emergency oil stocks as

Europe loses Saudi crude deliveries and diesel prices push deeper into record territory.

Macron said Friday that he will convene G7 countries in the coming weeks to coordinate stock levels, exports and production capacity and consider tapping strategic reserves. France is also working to secure diesel, jet fuel and natural gas supplies for the coming months.

Europe’s diesel benchmark rose to more than $200 per barrel this week, with taxes pushing retail-equivalent costs above $300.

Russia has extended restrictions on diesel exports, and Middle Eastern product exports are still constrained. Saudi Arabia added another problem Friday when Aramco told at least two European refiners they will receive no crude under term contracts in October following the attack on its East-West pipeline. The company is trying to restore partial pipeline capacity within days, with full recovery reportedly taking about six weeks. Aramco has found another route for roughly 60 million barrels through the Persian Gulf and ship-to-ship transfers near Oman. Most of those barrels are headed to Asian refiners. Europe is buying replacement crude from the North Sea and elsewhere instead.

The G7 has already burned through a lot of ammunition. IEA members have released more than 300 million barrels of emergency stocks since March. Global observed inventories are still 507 million barrels lower than when the war began, after drawing at an average 2.8 million bpd over the past six months.

Another stock release could put physical barrels—and importantly, finished fuel—into Europe quickly. It cannot repair Saudi Arabia’s pipeline, restart Russian refineries or reopen Hormuz.

NN: I keep urgining you to  forget the AI Spin.  Keep your eye on the money ball. Crude Oil and distillates supplies are running out the world over.
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Tanker reports pursuit by skiff off Yemen

A tanker reported an attempted interception by a skiff about 75 nautical miles east of Aden, Yemen, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Thursday. According to UKMTO, the skiff pursued the vessel and attempted to intercept it. Authorities are investigating the incident. Furthermore, the agency has advised ships operating in the area to remain “cautious” and report “suspicious activity.”

Explosion reported in Strait of Hormuz

An explosion occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, Sabereen News, affiliated with Iran-backed militia networks, reported on Thursday. According to the media outlet, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy fired missiles toward a vessel that allegedly violated its instructions related to passage through the waterway. Meanwhile, the United States blockade of Iranian ports and ships continued, with over 100 ships redirected so far.

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Saudi Pipeline Outage and Rising Red Sea Risks Driving Oil…… Houthis claim strikes on Aramco site, Saudi air base

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen are expanding their control over the west coast along the Red Sea, while the attacks on a key Saudi onshore oil pipeline triggered concerns about additional disruptions to already severely disrupted oil supply from the Middle East.   As it has become customary when oil prices rally above $100 a barrel, U.S. President Donald Trump posted late on Monday that “The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly. I will determine whether or not the U.S.A. will choose to engage – The concept of which we are open to.” Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, disputed President Trump’s claim, saying, “Don’t get distracted by the U.S. president’s mixed signals – from ‘no negotiations’ to ‘we’re ready to talk.’ The stakes around oil and the straits have changed. Damage control won’t stop what’s coming. No talks until Iran’s conditions are met. Period!” As hopes of talks fade, so did hopes of a wider regional agreement about the Strait of Hormuz. A meeting that was due to be held in Oman on Monday and had to involve Iran and other Persian Gulf states has been postponed. Last week’s attack on the East-West oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia, a vital conduit to redirect the Kingdom’s oil exports away from the Strait of Hormuz, has forced the Saudis to shut down the pipeline. This has put further upward pressure on oil prices as the market fears the pipeline disruption could last for weeks and oil for export at Yanbu’s storage tanks may run out before the pipeline restores full operations.

Houthis claim strikes on Aramco site, Saudi air base

Houthis’ military spokesperson Yahya Saree  said on Wednesday that the Yemeni militant group carried out two military operations in retaliation for “more than 450” Saudi airstrikes this week and launched ballistic missile attacks on the Saudi Aramco facility in the western Saudi port city of Yanbu and the Khamis Mushait Air Base in southwestern Saudi Arabia. “We will continue our military operations deep inside Saudi territory, targeting Saudi troop buildups, and maintaining the equation of ‘a siege for a siege’ and ‘an escalation for an escalation’ until the aggression ceases and the blockade on our beloved country is lifted,” Saree said.The militant group also previously downed Saudi Arabia’s US-made F-15 fighter jet, accusing it of “hostile operations” over Yemen’s Marib Governorate.

NN: Power of drones and AI driven warfare. The generals still don’t get it.

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Houthis strike Saudi targets anew as talks over Strait of Hormuz stall

  • Houthis maintain control of west coast of Yemen, officials say
  • Iran-backed group said to be increasing drone and missile strikes
  • Saudis and Yemenis retaliate with air power
  • Gulf states postpone talks over reopening Stait of Hormuz
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis launched a new wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia and were digging into positions on the western coast of Yemen along the Red Sea, Yemeni ​officials said, as urgent deliberations took place in Riyadh over how to respond to their lightning advance.
Meanwhile, Gulf Arab states postponed planned talks with Iran, raising concerns the ‌Middle East conflict could spread further and threaten global oil supplies. The Reuters Iran Briefing newsletter keeps you informed with the latest developments and analysis of the Iran war. Sign up here. The Houthis on Monday said they fired dozens of missiles and drones at a military airbase in Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia, targeting aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways and ammunition depots in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts there and in three other southern cities. Thirteen civilians were wounded in the Houthi attacks, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said.
 The Houthi advances in recent ​days, including the taking of Perim Island at the mouth of the Red Sea, have put further pressure on Saudi oil exports after an aerial attack on Thursday knocked Saudi ​Arabia’s east-west pipeline offline. Riyadh blamed the pipeline attack on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. Saudi Arabia built the 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) pipeline across its territory from the Gulf ⁠to the Red Sea in the 1980s to bypass the Strait of Hormuz when it came under threat from the Iran-Iraq war at that time. Traders said a prolonged shutdown of the Saudi pipeline ​could cut off as much as 4% of global oil supply while the strait is largely blockaded. Riyadh has not said when operations might resume. Responding to the Houthi offensive, the Saudi and Yemeni air forces have stepped ​up aerial bombardment of Houthi targets, including around the historic Red Sea port of Mocha, but the Houthis have maintained effective control over almost the entire western coast of the country along the Red Sea, the officials with Yemen’s internationally recognised government said. “The Houthis are being put under heavy pressure. They in turn are putting more and more pressure on the Saudis, increasing their campaign of missile and drone attacks,” one of the Yemeni officials said.
NN: Its looking ugly out their. Things just got a lot uglier out there. It  bares watching.
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Saudi oil pipeline said to be out of service ‘for weeks’

Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, damaged in a drone strike last week, will remain out of service for weeks, two unnamed officials told Associated Press (AP) on Monday. The exact deadline for reopening the crucial pipeline, one of the most important in the oil-rich nation, is widely seen as crucial for bypassing Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. On the other hand, the Yemeni Houthis gained control of the Bab el-Manded strait, controlling the exit from the Red Sea and threatening Saudi oil exports. Satellite image confirmed damage to the pipeline, with Riyadh stating the attack came from neighboring Iraq.