Ukrainian strikes, sanctions fuel global diesel crisis as prices soar

11/18/2025 / By Belle Carter

Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries, Western sanctions and refinery outages have caused diesel prices to surge in the U.S. and Europe, leading to fuel rationing and panic buying. Despite falling crude oil prices, refining margins are at record highs.
Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries (Saratov, Orsk, Volgograd) and U.S./EU sanctions on Russian energy firms (Lukoil, Rosneft) have removed millions of barrels from global markets. Refinery shutdowns in Kuwait and Nigeria further tighten supplies.
U.S. sanctions on Russian oil firms and impending EU bans on Russian fuel imports amplify market fears. Russia historically circumvents sanctions, but traders remain wary, worsening supply instability.
Diesel prices remain high despite lower crude costs, hurting trucking fleets, farmers and heating needs. Europe faces rationing and panic buying, exposing vulnerabilities in energy supply chains.
Analysts warn supply shocks could persist into 2024 due to geopolitical tensions, refinery closures and sanctions. The crisis highlights the fragility of global refining capacity and energy security beyond just crude supply.

A perfect storm of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries, Western sanctions and refinery outages in key regions has sent diesel prices skyrocketing across the U.S. and Europe, triggering fuel rationing and panic at gas stations.

With refining margins hitting record highs, consumers are feeling the pinch despite falling crude oil prices—a disconnect exposing vulnerabilities in global energy supply chains. The crisis, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and aging infrastructure, threatens to disrupt critical industries reliant on diesel, from agriculture to transportation.

Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries—including recent attacks on facilities in Saratov, Orsk and Volgograd—have crippled Moscow’s fuel production, removing millions of barrels of diesel and gasoline from global markets. Combined with U.S. sanctions on Russian energy giants Lukoil and Rosneft, along with EU restrictions, refining margins in the U.S., Europe and Asia have surged to their highest levels since at least 2018, according to Bloomberg calculations.

“Global refinery margins are astronomical,” said Eugene Lindell, head of refined products at consultancy FGE NexantECA. “The signal you’re giving the global refining system is to just run flat out.”

Meanwhile, refinery outages in Kuwait and Nigeria—including maintenance shutdowns at Nigeria’s newly operational Dangote refinery—have tightened supplies further. The International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that unplanned outages in October have “further constrained product markets,” pushing margins even higher.

Sanctions and sabotage: A double blow to fuel stability

The Trump administration’s October sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft, coupled with impending EU restrictions on Russian fuel imports, have amplified market fears. Russia, which exports over 800,000 barrels of oil products daily, has historically circumvented sanctions—but traders remain wary of disruptions.

“The sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil tightened the noose around Russia’s neck,” said Carolyn Kissane, an energy expert at New York University. “At the same time, you’re seeing more attacks driven by Ukraine against Russian infrastructure, which is a hit to the products market.”

Europe, already grappling with the loss of Russian diesel imports, faces additional uncertainty as EU bans on Russian-refined fuels take effect in January. Countries like India and Turkey, which process Russian crude into diesel for European markets, may soon face restrictions, further straining supplies.

While crude oil prices have fallen nearly 20% since late 2022, diesel prices remain stubbornly high—a paradox driven by refining bottlenecks. In the U.S., diesel prices have climbed steadily, squeezing trucking fleets and farmers ahead of harvest season. Europe, heavily reliant on Russian diesel before the Ukraine war, now faces rationing and panic buying in some regions.

For BrightU.AI‘s Enoch, the crisis underscores a broader energy dilemma: Western sanctions aimed at crippling Russia’s war machine have inadvertently destabilized global fuel markets. With refinery closures in Europe and the U.S. compounding the problem, analysts warn that supply shocks could persist well into 2024.

As Ukrainian strikes and sanctions reshape global energy flows, the diesel crunch serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness—and fragility—of modern fuel supply chains. While refiners reap record profits, consumers and industries brace for prolonged pain. With geopolitical tensions showing no signs of cooling and refinery capacity stretched thin, the world may be entering an era where energy security hinges not just on oil supply, but on the ability to refine it.

Watch the video below about Russian President Vladimir Putin commenting on U.S. President Donald Trumps sanctions.

This video is from Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.