>The US has urged Ukraine to halt attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, warning the drone strikes risk driving up global oil prices and provoking retaliation, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
>The repeated warnings from Washington were delivered to senior officials at Ukraine’s state security service, the SBU, and its military intelligence directorate, known as the GUR, the people told the Financial Times.
>Both intelligence units have steadily expanded their own drone programmes to strike Russian targets on land, sea and in the air since the start of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
>One person said that the White House had grown increasingly frustrated by brazen Ukrainian drone attacks that have struck oil refineries, terminals, depots and storage facilities across western Russia, hurting its oil production capacity.
>Russia remains one of the world’s most important energy exporters despite western sanctions on its oil and gas sector. Oil prices have risen about 15 per cent this year, to $85 a barrel, pushing up fuel costs just as US President Joe Biden begins his campaign for re-election.
>Washington is also concerned that if Ukraine keeps hitting Russian facilities, including many that are hundreds of miles from the border, Russia could retaliate by lashing out at energy infrastructure relied on by the west.
>This includes the CPC pipeline carrying oil from Kazakhstan through Russia to the global market. Western companies including ExxonMobil and Chevron use the pipeline, which Moscow briefly shut in 2022.
>“We do not encourage or enable attacks inside of Russia,” an NSC spokesperson said. The CIA declined to comment. In Kyiv, a spokesperson for the SBU declined to comment. Officials at GUR and Zelenskyy’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
>Ukraine has stepped up its air attacks in recent weeks, as its drone programmes expand and the ground war shifts in Moscow’s favour. It also follows growing discontent in Kyiv over what is seen as the west’s ambivalent approach to curbing Moscow’s energy revenues.
>There have been at least 12 attacks on major Russian refineries since 2022, and at least nine this year, along with several terminals, depots and storage facilities, according to a military intelligence official in Kyiv.
>Helima Croft, a former CIA analyst now at RBC Capital Markets, recently noted that Ukraine had shown it could strike most of the oil export infrastructure in western Russia, putting about 60 per cent of the country’s exports at risk.
>The US objections come as Biden faces a tough re-election battle this year with petrol prices on the rise, increasing almost 15 per cent this year to around $3.50 a gallon.
>“Nothing terrifies a sitting American president more than a surge in pump prices during an election year,” said Bob McNally, president of consultancy Rapidan Energy and a former White House energy adviser.
>Ukraine has steadily increased drone strikes as its technologies have advanced. Ukrainian officials claim to have developed drones with a range in excess of 1,000km and payloads capable of inflicting severe damage.
>Kyiv launched two of its largest and most widespread drone attacks last week, with operations by both the GUR and SBU successfully targeting seven Russian energy facilities in consecutive days.
>Over the past year, GRU and SBU sea drones have also struck Russian ports, destroyed several Russian warships in the Black Sea and hit Moscow’s prized Crimea bridge connecting Russia to the occupied Ukrainian peninsula.
>The aim of the “special operations” is to hamper the supply of fuel to Russia’s troops and cut funding for the Kremlin’s war effort, according to one Ukrainian official involved in planning and conducting the attacks.
>Kyiv also wants to deliver a symbolic blow by bringing the war closer to Moscow and showing its air defences — including those around the Kremlin — can be penetrated.
>The air campaign is also seen by some officials as a means to spur Washington into approving the $60bn military assistance package held up in Congress that is critical for Ukraine’s defence.
I knew there had to be some truths behind these rumors. What a fucking gutless administration we have. It should be well and clear with the red lines, drip feeding support etc this administration has no desire to help ukraine win. UA should tell them to fuck off and keep on with the strikes on the refineries.
Seems like US don’t even try to conceal its true face anymore.
Unfortunately for Europe Scholz instead of thinking own head only follows Biden…
It’s just political play “you want us to stop? Sure but we want xyz in return. Pass that bill”
Now they want Ukraine to fight with both hands tied behind their back while also denying them the means of winning! Unbelievable if true
Give aid first, then talk?
We need sources, or this could be the same bunch of people that feed the NYT. I am not saying it’s not true, and it fits Jake Sullivan’s approach, but we need to see actual evidence, and officials with a name.
100% continue……
I guess Ukraine has to listen if it wants all that irreplaceable support from the US… oh wait.
What an absolute farce.
Oh poor American at the pump, his 10p more at the pump makes him so sad. Nasty Ukrainians!
Honestly, humanity is fvcked up
The land of the free. Sure
The home of the brave?
Absolutely not
Nah i call fake … three people familiar with the discussions. Yeah right. Keep bombing the crap out of it 🇺🇦
This is complete bullshit!! What’s the source? This propaganda at it’s finest!
If thats true, then they can go fuck themselves. Europe and UA would be dar better without them
Sounds BS: “3 random people said…”
Wtf…they to continue hit Russia everywhere possible.
Hypocrits
US: We can’t give you more weapons and ammo, you need to figure it out yourself
Ukraine: Ok we will find a way (drones hit oil refineries)
US: No, not like that
Absurd.
Wouldn’t russia having less refineries operating mean that they consume less oil? Overall this would add supply to the oil market and only squeeze the internal fuel markets inside russia. That would lower oil prices, not raise them
I seem to recall a lot of Russian attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
This is being used as a wedge. If they have their refineries impacted, they will need to export for refinery capacity further harming their ability earn money.
The US’s message is clear. If they let fluffy off the chain, Russia will be in big trouble. The US doesn’t have to lift a finger.
Well the US can go get fucked then
Next twist: US supports Patriots to Russia to protect the refineries. The oil must flow.
Wink wink nod nod
This is bullshit. Ukraine should continue hurting Russia in any way possible, just like Russia would do to Ukraine. Russia just tried to bomb Kyiv with 31 shells ffs!
Ukraine is literally fighting for its existence and my country has the audacity to ask them to basically die without making too much noise? What a terrible time to be an American
Hit them twice as often ukraine. Fuck fuel prices fuck upsetting the people who won’t send you anymore help . Do what ever it takes to win/stay alive
Ukraine doesnt really need to blow up all of Russia’s oil refineries, even taking out 50% of them would be enough to hurt Russia badly. It’d be nice if they blew up all of them, but i guess nobody wants Trump in the office.
“One person”, “Washington”, “a senior official” … sorry but this doesn’t refer to any credible source.
Paywalled
So you’re saying it’s ok for Russia to destroy Ukraine but Ukraine can’t employ the same tactics on Russia. That’s BS!!
Cant believe how stupid most people are oh no gas prices are up must be the fault of the current president
They are just afraid it will send oil prices up, and that will harm bidens re-election.
lol.. provide them with the aid they need before making such dumb requests. Oil refineries are a perfectly legitimate target and I hope Ukraine ramps up the attacks.
Why not ?
Gotta pay to play… talk to comrade Johnson….
Well then the US can go fuck themselves.
Choke on your goddam oil
Will they stop? Doubt it. Good.
Fuck off, US.
Is this:
– A: Don’t take out the oil refineries *wink, wink*
– B: Only thing we care about in the world is really gas prices so don’t f**** take them out!
– C: This is supposed to be an arms race, boosting US industry, MAGA hats are just too stupid to understand. So stop taking out Russias ability to buy arms!
Refineries are fueling the russian war machine and thus are legitimate targets. So are industrial complexes. Also, Russia exports mote crude oil then refined products, so this is probably not goong to affect global prices, but just strain russian internal needs on the long run.
Biden ia afraid that gasolin gets more expensive and Trump will win. So Ukraine has to scale back. Not.
If Biden had some balls he would say that Ukraine WAS FORCED to attack russian oil assets BECOURSE the US is not supporting Ukraine.
And I would even tell the people that the longer the Republicans delay the bill it will get more and more expensive.
Yes – looks like blackmail but what do people expect Ukraine to do?
The West is stupid as f*ck. Yes, I am from the West myself.
44 comments
>The US has urged Ukraine to halt attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, warning the drone strikes risk driving up global oil prices and provoking retaliation, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
>The repeated warnings from Washington were delivered to senior officials at Ukraine’s state security service, the SBU, and its military intelligence directorate, known as the GUR, the people told the Financial Times.
>Both intelligence units have steadily expanded their own drone programmes to strike Russian targets on land, sea and in the air since the start of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
>One person said that the White House had grown increasingly frustrated by brazen Ukrainian drone attacks that have struck oil refineries, terminals, depots and storage facilities across western Russia, hurting its oil production capacity.
>Russia remains one of the world’s most important energy exporters despite western sanctions on its oil and gas sector. Oil prices have risen about 15 per cent this year, to $85 a barrel, pushing up fuel costs just as US President Joe Biden begins his campaign for re-election.
>Washington is also concerned that if Ukraine keeps hitting Russian facilities, including many that are hundreds of miles from the border, Russia could retaliate by lashing out at energy infrastructure relied on by the west.
>This includes the CPC pipeline carrying oil from Kazakhstan through Russia to the global market. Western companies including ExxonMobil and Chevron use the pipeline, which Moscow briefly shut in 2022.
>“We do not encourage or enable attacks inside of Russia,” an NSC spokesperson said. The CIA declined to comment. In Kyiv, a spokesperson for the SBU declined to comment. Officials at GUR and Zelenskyy’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
>Ukraine has stepped up its air attacks in recent weeks, as its drone programmes expand and the ground war shifts in Moscow’s favour. It also follows growing discontent in Kyiv over what is seen as the west’s ambivalent approach to curbing Moscow’s energy revenues.
>There have been at least 12 attacks on major Russian refineries since 2022, and at least nine this year, along with several terminals, depots and storage facilities, according to a military intelligence official in Kyiv.
>Helima Croft, a former CIA analyst now at RBC Capital Markets, recently noted that Ukraine had shown it could strike most of the oil export infrastructure in western Russia, putting about 60 per cent of the country’s exports at risk.
>The US objections come as Biden faces a tough re-election battle this year with petrol prices on the rise, increasing almost 15 per cent this year to around $3.50 a gallon.
>“Nothing terrifies a sitting American president more than a surge in pump prices during an election year,” said Bob McNally, president of consultancy Rapidan Energy and a former White House energy adviser.
>Ukraine has steadily increased drone strikes as its technologies have advanced. Ukrainian officials claim to have developed drones with a range in excess of 1,000km and payloads capable of inflicting severe damage.
>Kyiv launched two of its largest and most widespread drone attacks last week, with operations by both the GUR and SBU successfully targeting seven Russian energy facilities in consecutive days.
>Over the past year, GRU and SBU sea drones have also struck Russian ports, destroyed several Russian warships in the Black Sea and hit Moscow’s prized Crimea bridge connecting Russia to the occupied Ukrainian peninsula.
>The aim of the “special operations” is to hamper the supply of fuel to Russia’s troops and cut funding for the Kremlin’s war effort, according to one Ukrainian official involved in planning and conducting the attacks.
>Kyiv also wants to deliver a symbolic blow by bringing the war closer to Moscow and showing its air defences — including those around the Kremlin — can be penetrated.
>The air campaign is also seen by some officials as a means to spur Washington into approving the $60bn military assistance package held up in Congress that is critical for Ukraine’s defence.
I knew there had to be some truths behind these rumors. What a fucking gutless administration we have. It should be well and clear with the red lines, drip feeding support etc this administration has no desire to help ukraine win. UA should tell them to fuck off and keep on with the strikes on the refineries.
Seems like US don’t even try to conceal its true face anymore.
Unfortunately for Europe Scholz instead of thinking own head only follows Biden…
It’s just political play “you want us to stop? Sure but we want xyz in return. Pass that bill”
Now they want Ukraine to fight with both hands tied behind their back while also denying them the means of winning! Unbelievable if true
Give aid first, then talk?
We need sources, or this could be the same bunch of people that feed the NYT. I am not saying it’s not true, and it fits Jake Sullivan’s approach, but we need to see actual evidence, and officials with a name.
100% continue……
I guess Ukraine has to listen if it wants all that irreplaceable support from the US… oh wait.
What an absolute farce.
Oh poor American at the pump, his 10p more at the pump makes him so sad. Nasty Ukrainians!
Honestly, humanity is fvcked up
The land of the free. Sure
The home of the brave?
Absolutely not
Nah i call fake … three people familiar with the discussions. Yeah right. Keep bombing the crap out of it 🇺🇦
This is complete bullshit!! What’s the source? This propaganda at it’s finest!
If thats true, then they can go fuck themselves. Europe and UA would be dar better without them
Sounds BS: “3 random people said…”
Wtf…they to continue hit Russia everywhere possible.
Hypocrits
US: We can’t give you more weapons and ammo, you need to figure it out yourself
Ukraine: Ok we will find a way (drones hit oil refineries)
US: No, not like that
Absurd.
Wouldn’t russia having less refineries operating mean that they consume less oil? Overall this would add supply to the oil market and only squeeze the internal fuel markets inside russia. That would lower oil prices, not raise them
I seem to recall a lot of Russian attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
This is being used as a wedge. If they have their refineries impacted, they will need to export for refinery capacity further harming their ability earn money.
The US’s message is clear. If they let fluffy off the chain, Russia will be in big trouble. The US doesn’t have to lift a finger.
Well the US can go get fucked then
Next twist: US supports Patriots to Russia to protect the refineries. The oil must flow.
Wink wink nod nod
This is bullshit. Ukraine should continue hurting Russia in any way possible, just like Russia would do to Ukraine. Russia just tried to bomb Kyiv with 31 shells ffs!
Ukraine is literally fighting for its existence and my country has the audacity to ask them to basically die without making too much noise? What a terrible time to be an American
Hit them twice as often ukraine. Fuck fuel prices fuck upsetting the people who won’t send you anymore help . Do what ever it takes to win/stay alive
Ukraine doesnt really need to blow up all of Russia’s oil refineries, even taking out 50% of them would be enough to hurt Russia badly. It’d be nice if they blew up all of them, but i guess nobody wants Trump in the office.
“One person”, “Washington”, “a senior official” … sorry but this doesn’t refer to any credible source.
Paywalled
So you’re saying it’s ok for Russia to destroy Ukraine but Ukraine can’t employ the same tactics on Russia. That’s BS!!
Cant believe how stupid most people are oh no gas prices are up must be the fault of the current president
They are just afraid it will send oil prices up, and that will harm bidens re-election.
lol.. provide them with the aid they need before making such dumb requests. Oil refineries are a perfectly legitimate target and I hope Ukraine ramps up the attacks.
Why not ?
Gotta pay to play… talk to comrade Johnson….
Well then the US can go fuck themselves.
Choke on your goddam oil
Will they stop? Doubt it. Good.
Fuck off, US.
Is this:
– A: Don’t take out the oil refineries *wink, wink*
– B: Only thing we care about in the world is really gas prices so don’t f**** take them out!
– C: This is supposed to be an arms race, boosting US industry, MAGA hats are just too stupid to understand. So stop taking out Russias ability to buy arms!
Refineries are fueling the russian war machine and thus are legitimate targets. So are industrial complexes. Also, Russia exports mote crude oil then refined products, so this is probably not goong to affect global prices, but just strain russian internal needs on the long run.
Biden ia afraid that gasolin gets more expensive and Trump will win. So Ukraine has to scale back. Not.
If Biden had some balls he would say that Ukraine WAS FORCED to attack russian oil assets BECOURSE the US is not supporting Ukraine.
And I would even tell the people that the longer the Republicans delay the bill it will get more and more expensive.
Yes – looks like blackmail but what do people expect Ukraine to do?
The West is stupid as f*ck. Yes, I am from the West myself.
isolationism 101…. you no longer have a say…..