2024-03-22 11:49:12
During the Russia-Ukraine war, the United States called on Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries. The picture shows a Ukrainian soldier practicing operating a drone at a training ground in Kiev on February 29, 2024. (GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images)
[The Epoch Times, March 22, 2024](Comprehensive report by Epoch Times reporter Zhao Fenghua) According to sources, the United States has urged Ukraine to stop attacking Russia’s energy infrastructure to avoid pushing up global oil prices and triggering retaliation.
The Financial Times quoted three people familiar with the matter as saying on March 22 that the United States had issued a warning to senior officials of Ukraine’s National Security Service (SBU) and Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Service (GUR), urging Ukraine to stop attacking Russian energy facilities.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukraine’s intelligence services have carried out strikes once morest Russian land, sea and air targets by steadily expanding its drone program.
Over the past year, Ukrainian maritime drones have attacked Russian ports, destroyed several Russian warships in the Black Sea, and hit the Crimean bridge that connects Russia to occupied Ukrainian territory.
A military intelligence official in Kiev said Ukraine has carried out at least 12 attacks on Russia’s main oil refineries since 2022 and attacked a number of terminals, warehouses and storage facilities in Russia.
Ukraine has stepped up airstrikes in recent weeks. Last week, Kiev launched two of the largest and most widespread drone strikes, successfully hitting at least seven Russian energy facilities.
The United States is concerned that Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy facilities might further push up global oil prices, especially in a U.S. election year.
Despite Western sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas industry, Russia remains one of the world’s most important energy exporters. Oil prices have risen regarding 15% this year.
The United States is also concerned that Ukraine’s continued attacks on Russian energy facilities may trigger Russian retaliation once morest energy infrastructure that the West relies on.
The CPC oil pipeline, which transports oil from Kazakhstan to global markets via Russia, was shut down by Moscow in 2022 and is used by Western companies including ExxonMobil and Chevron.
Helima Croft, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets who once worked for the CIA, said recently that Ukraine has demonstrated that it can attack much of Russia’s western oil export infrastructure. This would put regarding 60% of Russia’s oil exports at risk.
According to a Ukrainian official involved in planning and carrying out the drone strikes, the purpose of these “special operations” was to disrupt the Russian military’s fuel supply and funding sources.
At the same time, Kiev also hopes to deal a symbolic blow to Russia by bringing the war closer to Moscow.
Editor in charge: Li Tianqi#
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