Ukraine is continuing to strike Russian oil refineries despite warnings from US President Donald Trump, who blames the attacks for driving up global fuel prices ahead of the US midterms.
Key facts
- Ukraine struck an oil facility in Russia's southern Samara region overnight.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Russian vessel in the Black Sea was also hit.
- A drone launch and storage site in the Oryol region was targeted.
- Trump blames the strikes for a global diesel shortage and higher fuel prices.
- Analysts cite the war in Iran as the main cause of rising prices, according to the Guardian.
Ukraine is pressing on with strikes on Russian oil refineries, defying US President Donald Trump, who has blamed the attacks for worsening a global diesel shortage and pushing up fuel prices, according to the Guardian.
Kyiv struck an oil facility in Russia’s southern Samara region overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statement on social media on Thursday.
Zelenskyy added that Ukrainian forces also hit a Russian vessel in the Black Sea, as well as a launch and storage site for attack drones in the Oryol region.
The continued campaign comes as Trump warns that the strikes are contributing to higher fuel prices at a politically sensitive moment ahead of crucial US midterm elections.
However, analysts quoted by the Guardian say the war in Iran is the main cause of rising prices, rather than Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.
The strikes highlight the tension between Kyiv’s military strategy of targeting Russia’s energy sector and Washington’s concerns about the economic fallout at home.
Why it matters
Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil infrastructure sit at the intersection of the war effort and global energy markets, with potential consequences for fuel prices worldwide. The dispute also underscores friction between Kyiv and Washington at a politically sensitive time for President Trump ahead of the US midterms.
Frequently asked questions
What did Ukraine strike overnight?
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine struck an oil facility in Russia's southern Samara region, a Russian vessel in the Black Sea, and a drone launch and storage site in the Oryol region.
Why does Trump oppose the strikes?
Trump blames the attacks for exacerbating a global diesel shortage and pushing up fuel prices, a concern heightened ahead of the US midterm elections.
What do analysts say is behind rising fuel prices?
According to the Guardian, analysts say the war in Iran is the main cause of rising prices rather than Ukraine's refinery strikes.