Kremenchuk Oil Refinery
Ukraine's largest oil refinery, operated as the principal refinery branch of PJSC Ukrtatnafta until its destruction in 2022.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Kremenchuk Oil Refinery was an industrial petroleum-processing complex in Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast, Ukraine. Commissioned in 1961, it became the largest refinery in Ukraine by design capacity and, for many years, one of the country's most important sources of refined petroleum products. Its product slate included gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil and other outputs associated with crude-oil refining and secondary conversion processes. The plant was developed during the Soviet period and introduced several technically significant units for the region. Its early configuration included a desalting unit and an atmospheric-vacuum tubular unit. Between 1967 and 1969, the site added gas-fractionation and catalytic-reforming equipment, a GK-3 combined processing unit and supporting hydrogen facilities. The refinery was also described as an early adopter in modern-day Ukraine of catalytic cracking and catalytic reforming. Its original environmental infrastructure was notable for including an industrial wastewater-treatment system designed to avoid discharging effluent into natural water bodies. Additional expansion took place during the 1970s and 1980s, including sulfur-production equipment and an LK-6U combined processing unit. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the refinery came under Ukrainian control and experienced ownership and operating changes. It was subsequently associated with PJSC Ukrtatnafta, becoming that company's main branch from 1994. Modernization work carried out from 2006 to 2009 replaced catalyst systems and other internal equipment, but the facility generally operated well below its nominal capacity. The refinery's design crude-processing capacity was approximately 18.62 million tonnes per year. In practice, throughput was substantially lower: the plant processed about 3.091 million tonnes of crude in 2012, and Ukrtatnafta reported in 2016 that it was operating at roughly one-quarter of capacity. In 2008, the refinery was reported to supply approximately 30 percent of Ukraine's petroleum market. Its strategic importance increased after the closure of the Lysychansk Oil Refinery, leaving Kremenchuk as Ukraine's only operating oil refinery for a period. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 made the refinery a repeated military target. Ukrainian authorities reported that a major attack on 3 April 2022 had completely destroyed the facility. Further missile strikes were reported in May of that year. Ukrainian officials later stated that repeated attacks had halted oil refining in the country. The site was attacked again on 1 November 2023, although the resulting fire was reportedly extinguished quickly. Ukrainian government statements attributed dozens of missile strikes and hundreds of drone attacks to the refinery since the beginning of the invasion. Damage also raised environmental concerns, including the release of pollutants and possible contamination risks involving groundwater, migration routes and electrical equipment that might contain polychlorinated biphenyls. The refinery is therefore best understood as a historically important Ukrainian industrial facility whose operating status ended after wartime destruction.
History
Construction of Kremenchuk Oil Refinery began in 1961, and the plant entered service that year with a desalting unit and an atmospheric-vacuum tubular unit. The initial complex established the refinery as a major petroleum-processing site in the Ukrainian part of the Soviet Union. During 1967–1969, the facility was expanded with gas-fractionation and catalytic-reforming equipment, a GK-3 combined unit and auxiliary hydrogen units. These additions enabled more advanced processing than simple atmospheric distillation. The refinery was also associated with early use in modern-day Ukraine of catalytic cracking and catalytic reforming. Its environmental systems included an industrial wastewater-treatment arrangement intended to prevent effluent from entering natural water bodies. The plant continued to expand during the 1970s and 1980s. Major additions included a sulfur-production unit and an LK-6U combined processing unit, broadening the refinery's conversion and product capabilities. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the refinery became part of the Ukrainian industrial economy. The post-Soviet period brought changes in ownership and corporate control, as well as periods of operation below the plant's original potential. Since 1994, the refinery has operated as the main branch of PJSC Ukrtatnafta. A modernization program between 2006 and 2009 replaced catalyst systems and other internal equipment. Despite these investments, actual production remained considerably below the facility's design capacity of approximately 18.62 million tonnes of crude per year. The refinery supplied about 30 percent of Ukraine's petroleum market in 2008, but processed only around 3.091 million tonnes in 2012. In 2016, Ukrtatnafta reported that the plant was functioning at approximately 25 percent of capacity. These figures illustrate the difference between the refinery's historical engineering scale and its practical throughput. Kremenchuk gained additional national importance after the Lysychansk Oil Refinery closed. It then became Ukraine's only operating oil refinery, making interruptions at the site particularly consequential for domestic fuel availability. The plant processed crude into gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, gas fractions, sulfur and related petroleum products, serving the Ukrainian market rather than functioning primarily as an international consumer brand. The refinery became a repeated target during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On 3 April 2022, Poltava Oblast acting governor Dmytro Lunin announced that a Russian strike had completely destroyed the plant. Further missile attacks were reported in May. In June 2022, Naftogaz chief executive Yuriy Vitrenko said that repeated attacks had shut down all oil refining in Ukraine. The facility was struck again on 1 November 2023, when a fire was reportedly brought under control quickly. Ukrainian officials later described an extensive pattern of attacks involving missiles and drones. The destruction generated environmental as well as economic and strategic consequences. Reported concerns included the release of pollutants, possible effects on wildlife migration and groundwater, and hazards associated with a damaged electrical substation that might contain polychlorinated biphenyls. Because the site was reported destroyed and no reliable source in the supplied material establishes a subsequent restart, the refinery is classified here as defunct, while the exact legal and asset-management status remains subject to review.
- 2023
Further attack and environmental concerns
[1]The damaged site was attacked again on 1 November, while officials reported extensive cumulative missile and drone strikes and associated environmental risks.
- 2022
Reportedly destroyed during Russian invasion
[1]Ukrainian authorities reported that an attack on 3 April had completely destroyed the refinery, followed by additional strikes.
- 2012
Throughput recorded well below design capacity
[1]The refinery processed approximately 3.091 million tonnes of crude, far below its 18.62-million-tonne design capacity.
- 2006
Modernization program begins
[1]A modernization program running through 2009 replaced catalyst systems and other internal equipment.
- 1994
Becomes Ukrtatnafta's main branch
[1]The refinery became the principal branch of PJSC Ukrtatnafta.
- 1969
Early conversion facilities completed
[1]Expansion during 1967–1969 added gas fractionation, catalytic reforming, a GK-3 combined unit and hydrogen-support facilities.
- 1961
Refinery commissioned
[1]Kremenchuk Oil Refinery entered service with desalting and atmospheric-vacuum processing units.
Products and positioning
A strategically important Ukrainian petroleum refinery and the principal industrial branch of PJSC Ukrtatnafta, distinguished by its large design capacity and role in domestic fuel supply.
Refined petroleum fuel
Gasoline
Gasoline was among the refinery's principal finished petroleum products. It was produced through the site's crude-processing and conversion systems, including catalytic-reforming-related operations, and supplied the Ukrainian petroleum market.
Refined petroleum fuel
Diesel fuel
Diesel fuel formed part of the refinery's core output for Ukraine's transport, commercial and industrial markets. The supplied sources identify diesel as a major product but do not provide a detailed grade or brand portfolio.
Heavy petroleum product
Fuel oil
Fuel oil was another reported product of the refinery. It represented the heavier end of the plant's petroleum output alongside lighter transport fuels and intermediate refinery streams.
Refinery by-product
Sulfur
A sulfur-production unit was added during the refinery's later Soviet-era expansion. The unit enabled recovery and processing of sulfur-bearing material generated during petroleum refining.
Brand decisions
2022
Operations ended after wartime destructionOtherBackground
The refinery became a repeated target during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was central to the country's remaining refining capacity after the closure of Lysychansk.
Action taken
Following the reported complete destruction of the plant in April 2022 and further strikes, refining operations ceased.
Aftermath
Ukrainian officials described the national refining system as shut down, while the damaged site posed continuing environmental and infrastructure risks.
2006
Modernization and catalyst replacementStrategyBackground
The refinery operated below its historical design potential and required technical renewal after the post-Soviet transition.
Action taken
From 2006 to 2009, the operator modernized parts of the facility, replacing catalyst systems and some internal equipment.
Aftermath
The work improved the plant's technical base, but reported throughput continued to remain well below the nominal 18.62-million-tonne annual design capacity.
Recent events
- 2023
Kremenchuk refinery targeted again[1]
Other
The refinery was attacked on 1 November 2023. The fire resulting from the attack was reported to have been extinguished quickly.
- 2023
Officials report extensive missile and drone attacks against the refinery[1]
Other
Statements to the Verkhovna Rada attributed 69 missiles and 260 drones to attacks on the refinery since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. The damage was also associated with potential environmental risks.
- 2022
Russian attack reported to have completely destroyed Kremenchuk Oil Refinery[1]
Other · Regulation
On 3 April 2022, Poltava Oblast acting governor Dmytro Lunin said that a Russian attack had completely destroyed the refinery. The event severely affected Ukraine's domestic refining capacity.
- 2022
Further missile strikes reported at the destroyed refinery[1]
Other
Additional Russian missile strikes were reported against the already destroyed refinery in May 2022. Ukrainian energy officials subsequently described the country's oil-refining system as shut down because of repeated attacks.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/kremenchuk-oil-refinery · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled