# Russian government says protecting oil refineries from drones is costly, but shutdowns would cost more

https://mins.news/en/item/42252

- Meduza, 2026-09-02 15:17 UTC
- World
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/02/protecting-oil-refineries-from-drones-is-costly-but-idle-plants-mean-even-bigger-losses-russian-government-says

> Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said spending heavily to protect oil refineries from drone strikes is worthwhile because halted plants would cause companies even greater losses. Owners coordinate passive protection with the Defense Ministry and National Guard. Russia has delayed routine refinery maintenance to maximize fuel output after Ukrainian drone attacks on its largest facilities contributed to gasoline shortages nationwide.

## Stories

- [Russia Ukraine War and European Support](https://mins.news/en/topic/russia-ukraine-war-european-support) — Markdown: https://mins.news/en/topic/russia-ukraine-war-european-support.md

## Related coverage

- [Two Russian oil refineries halt operations after Ukrainian strikes, General Staff says](https://mins.news/en/item/45411) — The Kyiv Independent, 2026-09-04
- [Novak: Russia steps up refinery security and accelerates repairs](https://mins.news/en/item/42310) — TASS, 2026-09-02