Kirishi refinery in Russia, hit by Ukrainian strikes

Verified facts & additional details

Name, location, and operator
- KINEF is an abbreviation (in Russian) for Kirishi Petroleum Organic Synthesis (Киришский нефтехимический синтез)
- It is located in Kirishi, in Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia.
- KINEF is a subsidiary of Surgutneftegaz (via its Kirishinefteorgsintez division)
Processing capacity
- The figure “17.7 million tons per year” is cited by multiple sources (sometimes slightly rounded).
- In percentage terms, that corresponds to about 6.4 % of Russia’s total refining capacity, according to industry sources
- Some industry overviews describe it as one of “Russia’s top two refineries by volume.”
Refining complexity, products, and outputs
- KINEF is described as an integrated cracking refinery, meaning it has downstream units for conversion (not just crude distillation).
- Its “Nelson Complexity Index” is given as 7.55, indicating moderate complexity (i.e. it does more than just simple distillation).
- It produces a broad slate of petroleum products: gasoline, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuels, LPG, etc.
- According to one source, the refinery yields: ~2.3 million tons of gasoline (≈ 5.3 % of Russia’s gasoline), ~7.6 % of diesel, ~16.3 % of fuel oil, and ~3.4 % of aviation fuel.
Historical & structural details
- The original version of the refinery began construction in 1961, with first production in 1966.
- Over time, it underwent upgrades, additions of conversion units, etc., to modernize and improve output and quality.
- There is also a newer facility project on the same site called Kirishi-2 Oil Refinery, intended to be a “high conversion / residual oil processing” unit, with a capacity around 10 million tons per year.
Recent challenges and risks
- The refinery has been a target in the context of the Russia–Ukraine conflict. In September 2025, a Ukrainian drone strike damaged one of its key units (or a component) and forced a shutdown of that unit.
- In earlier attacks, damage from falling debris has occurred, resulting in localized damage (e.g. to tanks) but not always a full shutdown.
- Some sources suggest that parts of the plant account for large shares of output capacity (e.g. one major unit may contribute ~40 % of total processing when active).
Area and infrastructure
- The refinery complex covers a substantial site. A project description mentions 100 hectares just for a new deep-processing unit within the existing complex (which overall is around 650 hectares).
- The refinery is in the northwest of Russia, making it strategically important for supplying the Russian northwestern regions (and export routes toward Europe).
Unique or notable points
- KINEF is (or historically has been) the only large oil refinery in Northwestern Russia.
- The trade/export arm “KiNEx” (Kirishineftekhimexport) was established to handle exports of KINEF’s refined products (especially to Northern Europe).
- The nearby Kirishi Power Station (a thermal power plant) is closely associated with the industrial complex in Kirishi; they share infrastructure and possibly fuel interconnections.