Additional Coverage:
- Vladimir Putin’s oil crisis deepens as Ukraine obliterates key site at heart of Russia (irishstar.com)
Ukrainian Strikes Target Russian Oil Infrastructure, Intensifying Fuel Shortages
Ukrainian missiles have reportedly struck an oil pumping station in Russia’s Chuvashia region, halting its operations, a Ukrainian security official confirmed Saturday. A subsequent blaze erupted after the long-range missile made contact with the facility.
This incident is part of a broader, sustained campaign by Ukraine to target Russia’s energy sector. The Ukrainian security service (SBU) stated its continued efforts to impose “sanctions” on the Russian oil industry, aiming to cut off “excess profits” that fund Russia’s ongoing conflict against Ukraine.
The continuous strikes have reportedly led to significant fuel shortages across dozens of regions within Russia, with reports of long queues forming outside gas stations. Ukrainian drone attacks have substantially impacted the Russian oil refining industry, at times cutting production by nearly a fifth and causing reduced exports from major ports.
Sergei Aksyonov, the leader of Russia-controlled Crimea, acknowledged on Thursday that disruptions in fuel supplies were connected to the shutdown of some oil refineries. Crimea is facing some of the most severe shortages, with nearly 400 gas stations reportedly closing across Russia due to supply breakdowns.
In related developments, Ukrainian forces are also reported to have destroyed three Russian gas distribution centers in Russian-controlled Luhansk Oblast during a nighttime assault. The Kyiv Independent reported that facilities in Shchastia, Severodonetsk, and Novopskov were targeted. This follows earlier explosions that tore through the main processing unit at the Afipsky Oil Refinery in Krasnodar, a key supplier for the Kremlin’s war efforts.
Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, emphasizing the magnitude of the devastation. He stated that almost one-third of Russia’s refining capability has been taken out of action, severely impacting exports that finance President Putin’s war. “Their economy is going to hell,” Trump declared.
Trump’s comments followed a recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Soon after, Trump posted on social media, expressing a belief that Ukraine could “fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form” with the support of the European Union and NATO. This marked a significant shift from his previous calls for Kyiv to make concessions to end the war.