Ukraine's plans for strikes on Russian refineries after US criticism

Photo: Mykhailo Podolyak, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)

Ukraine will continue to destroy Russian oil refineries. Ukrainian soldiers must attack the facilities that support the war, according to the statement by Mykhailo Podolyak, an Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.

He noted that all statements by American officials against Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries are internal discussions about US interests. But they are not ultimatums to Ukraine.

Podolyak reminded that Ukraine is waging a defensive war and has a right to destroy all the aggressor’s war infrastructure.

“Ukraine not only has the right but is practically obligated to destroy war supply infrastructure. That is, Ukraine needs to destroy Russian infrastructure to get positive results in the war. Refineries are directly military infrastructure,” emphasized the Presidential Office advisor.

He said that all takeoffs of Tu and MiG aircrafts are provided by the fuel produced at Russian refineries. And to secure its territory, Ukraine needs to destroy such objects.

“Will Ukraine destroy them? Definitely,” Podolyak noted.

At the same time, he added that the argument about the impact of Ukrainian attacks on the global market is nonsense. Russia sells a small amount of its crude oil, which does not affect pricing.

“If you don’t have oil refining, then you will, on the contrary, increase sales of crude oil volumes on the global market,” he added.

According to Podolyak, prices on the global market are affected by Houthi attacks and the position of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

US position on attacks

Recently, the Financial Times reported that the US urged Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries. Washington is concerned about a possible rise in gasoline prices during the year of the presidential elections, which could affect President Joe Biden’s ratings.

Following this, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that such attacks could impact the global energy situation. He also advised Ukraine to focus on other targets.

Additionally, Lloyd Austin’s assistant, Celeste Wallander, directly called Russian oil refineries “civilian targets”.