Ukraine Values Russian Oil Refinery Targets Legal Attacks Despite Risks Of Rising Prices

Ukrainian drone forces. (Wikimedia Commons/Obviously

JAKARTA - The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine said on Friday Russian oil refineries were a legitimate target for its troops, after a media report said the United States, its close allies, had asked Kyiv to stop carrying out drone strikes against oil refineries.

Ukraine dramatically stepped up its attack on Russian energy facilities this month, launching a number of long-range drones to attack Russia's largest refinery, resulting in a temporary suspension of production at some of the refineries.

"We understand the calls of US partners, but at the same time we are struggling with the capabilities, resources and practices we have," the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration told the Kyiv Security Forum.

He said the energy facility was a legitimate target from a military point of view.

Separately, the Financial Times cited sources familiar with the matter as saying Washington had urged Kyiv to halt attacks, warning of risks in triggering retaliation and raising global oil prices.

The attack is said to have led to an increase in oil prices, which have so far increased by nearly 4 percent since March 12, when Ukraine attacked a large oil refinery.

As previously reported, Ukraine's long-range strike drone launched by the domestic security service, SBU, has successfully hit 12 Russian oil refineries during the war so far, Ukrainian intelligence sources said.

Officials in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia said the Ukrainian drone had attacked the Slavyansk oil refinery, 70 km (45 miles) north of the region's capital.

Ukrainian sources said the refinery, which processes about 4.5 million metric tons of crude oil per year and produces fuel primarily for export, had been attacked in operations carried out by the security services of SBU and other Ukrainian forces.

"The agency continues to implement strategies to weaken Russia's economic potential and reduce the flow of petro dollars used by its enemies for war," the source said.

"In total, the SBU drone has recently successfully attacked 12 oil refineries in Russia," he said.

This figure does not include operations carried out by Ukrainian GUR military intelligence agencies, which also attacked refineries with drones, the second intelligence source said.

Official Russian media reported drones have attacked refineries in many areas in recent weeks, including the Rosneft refinery. Oil and petroleum products are an important source of income for Russia, which exports it to many countries in the world.