Drone Attack Shuts Russia's Orenburg Gas Plant, Halts Kazakh Supplies

Kazakhstan's Karachaganak oil and gas field has reduced output by 25–30% after a Ukrainian drone attack damaged Russia's Orenburg gas processing plant, which suspended intake of Kazakh gas. The Orenburg facility, operated by Gazprom and one of the world's largest gas plants, experienced a fire in one of its workshops, but Kazakhstan's domestic gas supplies remain unaffected. Ukrainian forces have intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure since August to disrupt fuel supplies and reduce Moscow's revenue. While the extent of damage and timeline for full operational restoration at Orenburg remain unclear, Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry is maintaining close contact with Russian authorities and field operators to assess potential impacts. The Karachaganak field, operated by a consortium including Chevron, Shell, Eni, Lukoil, and KazMunayGaz, exports significant oil volumes via pipelines that transit Russia. Ukraine confirmed targeting the Orenburg plant and other facilities as part of ongoing military efforts, with Russian air defenses reportedly shooting down dozens of Ukrainian drones during the attacks.