FT: US asked Ukraine to stop attacking Russian refineries

The US asked Ukraine to stop attacking Russian refineries, reported the British newspaper Financial Times, citing unnamed sources. Washington is concerned, they said, that drone strikes on Russian oil infrastructure could drive up global oil prices and also provoke Moscow to retaliate. In response, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said, according to the Ukrainian broadcaster Hromadske, that some officials consider Russian refineries legitimate targets from a military standpoint.

According to the British newspaper, the US presidential administration has repeatedly asked Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and military intelligence agency (HUR) to stop the attacks.

Despite Western sanctions, Russia remains one of the world’s leading energy exporters. Oil prices on global markets have risen this year, reaching 85 dollars per barrel. As a result, fuel prices are rising at a time when US President Joe Biden is seeking another term in office, the FT noted.

„Nothing can frighten a sitting US president as much as rising fuel prices during an election year,“ former White House energy adviser Bob McNally told the newspaper.

US gasoline prices have already risen by almost 15 percent this year, according to the FT.

The White House is also concerned, according to the newspaper, that if Ukraine continues its attacks on Russian oil refineries or oil storage facilities, Russia could retaliate by striking infrastructure on which the West depends. This includes, for example, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline, which transports oil from Kazakhstan through Russia to global markets.

Ukraine has recently stepped up its air strikes on Russia as it expands its drone capabilities, according to the British newspaper. Since 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine has carried out at least 12 major strikes on Russian refineries, according to the FT.

Ukraine also attacks oil terminals and storage facilities. The strikes are concentrated in western Russia, but sometimes hit targets hundreds of kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian officials say the country has developed drones capable of travelling more than 1000 kilometres.

In connection with the British newspaper’s report, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna said Ukraine had responded to US calls by „achieving its objectives“ and carrying out „very successful operations“. „There are also statements from other officials that [refineries] are absolutely legitimate targets from a military standpoint. We understand the calls from our American partners. At the same time, we are fighting using the options, means and methods available to us,“ she said.

The Kremlin has also responded to the FT report. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the US should instead urge Ukraine to stop attacking Russian civilian targets. Russian authorities accuse Ukrainian forces of shelling Russian border areas. Recently, the Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine has come under particularly intense attack.