Ukraine Targets Russian Oil Infrastructure, Disrupts Refining
The United States of America, as articulated by the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, does not endorse the Ukrainian airstrikes conducted on Russian oil refineries.
Blinken emphasised that while the U.S. has provided assistance to Ukraine in self-defence since the inception of the conflict, it does not advocate for strikes beyond Ukrainian borders.
During a press conference with French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejournet, Blinken explicitly stated, "We have not endorsed Ukrainian attacks beyond its borders and have not participated in them."
Reports indicate that on Tuesday, factories in Tatarstan, over 1,100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, were targeted by a drone strike, resulting in several casualties. The assault took place within an economic zone housing an industrial facility where Russia, with assistance from Iran, intends to manufacture thousands of Shahed-type drones, as reported by The Washington Post last summer.
According to the Russian state agency RIA, Russian electronic defence systems intercepted a Ukrainian drone near the Taneco refinery, owned by Tatneft, one of Russia's largest, in Nizhnekamsk.
Following a fire outbreak at the refinery, promptly extinguished within 20 minutes, production remained uninterrupted, as confirmed by RIA.
This incident marks the initial Ukrainian offensive in the Russian republic of Tatarstan and is among the strikes conducted farthest from the Ukrainian border.
Recent reports from The Kiev Independent suggest that Ukraine has launched consistent assaults on Russian oil refineries and other industrial facilities using long-range drones, disrupting approximately 12-14% of Russia's refining capacity.
Additionally, as per Unian reports, Ukrainians have aimed at the energy infrastructure in the annexed Crimean peninsula.
The Ukrainian Intelligence Service reiterated its commitment to systematically reduce Russia's opportunities to finance the aggressive war against Ukraine.
Moscow initiated an overnight attack on the neighbouring country with ten kamikaze drones and a missile, with the majority of them neutralised by Ukrainian air defence.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
