(StraightNews.org) A Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian oil refinery has impacted gasoline availability in the country, pushing prices up at the pump. More than 75 drones targeted several Russian regions through the weekend of July 20, including Russia’s largest refinery in the Black Sea. Ukraine has begun targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure in tactics that mirror Moscow’s, which started striking Ukrainian energy facilities earlier this year. To maintain pricing stability, Russia banned oil exports in March. It intended to cease the ban in July, but Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Agency has since extended the policy to August and expects to extend beyond that time “if the situation gets tense.”
It is not Russia’s first fuel crisis since the war broke out in February 2022. Last August, the country faced gasoline shortages prompted by reduced refinery maintenance, a weakening ruble, and railway delays. Fuel shortages at that time pushed prices up by 10% to 20%, impacting food production and prompting complaints from farmers.
More recently, Ukraine’s new military commander said strikes on Russian energy facilities have turned the tables on Moscow and will help Ukraine to win the war. Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi also said his forces would soon be boosted by the arrival of F-16 fighter jets, as promised by the US, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
President Biden, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof issued a joint statement in early July saying, “The transfer process for these F-16s is now underway, and Ukraine will be flying operational F-16s this summer.”
Belgium and Norway have also pledged to supply more aircraft in the future.
Meanwhile, a Russian military intelligence officer died on July 24 in a car bomb explosion in Moscow. Kremlin officials said the officer, who was a communications specialist, died when an improvised explosive device (IED) denoted in his car. The Russian government has blamed Ukraine for the attack but said an investigation will be launched.
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