Ukraine is increasingly targeting Russian oil refineries in a bid to disrupt Moscow‘s war effort, leading to fuel shortages and price increases within Russia, according to recent analysis. The attacks represent a shift in Kyiv’s strategy, aiming to cripple a key source of revenue for the Kremlin and hamper its military capabilities.
while less profitable than exporting gasoline and diesel, crude oil exports from russia reached record levels at the end of September, even as Ukrainian strikes intensified.Experts say the attacks are already undermining Russia’s ability to fund and sustain its invasion of Ukraine,and their impact could be amplified by further Western sanctions targeting oil exports.
“The impact of the attacks could be reinforced if the West took ‘additional measures’ and sanctions targeting oil exports,” noted energy market analyst Alan Crump. however,he emphasized the current strikes are already having a tangible effect on Moscow’s war machine.
Bloomberg reported that despite the record export volumes, the attacks are creating logistical challenges and driving up costs for Russia. The disruption to refining capacity is forcing Russia to rely more heavily on gasoline and diesel imports, further straining its resources.
The strategy reflects a calculated effort by Ukraine to exploit vulnerabilities in Russia’s energy sector, a vital component of its economy. By reducing Russia’s oil revenue and complicating its fuel supply,Kyiv hopes to weaken Moscow’s long-term ability to prosecute the war.
