Russia Slashes April Oil Output by 500K-600K bpd vs Late-2025, IEA Cuts Forecast

Russia cut oil production in April by 300,000–400,000 bpd from early-2026 levels after Ukrainian drone attacks on ports and refineries halted Druzhba pipeline flows, with Reuters sources estimating a sharper 500,000–600,000 bpd drop versus late-2025 output. The IEA downgraded Russia's supply outlook by 120,000 bpd for the rest of 2026 due to lasting infrastructure damage, while March output was 8.96m bpd (IEA) or 9.167m bpd (OPEC). Initial reports flagged the cuts' severity; updates highlight supply tightening amid Iran war tensions, supporting higher oil prices despite uncertainties on permanence.