Russia has been able to swiftly repair oil refineries inside Russian territory that have been targeted by Ukrainian drones, Reuters reported on Monday.
The report said the attacks initially reduced Russia’s oil production by 14% at the end of March, but after quick repairs, it is now down by 10% and expected to continue to increase.
The Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s refineries provoked more Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. According to The Washington Post, US officials say the Russian strikes have hurt Ukraine far more than the attacks on oil refineries hurt Russia.
The Post report said that Vice President Kamala Harris told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop targeting Russian oil refineries back in February over concerns it would disrupt the global oil market and provoke harsh Russian retaliation. But Zelensky brushed off the warnings, and the attacks continued.
Russia has been much more successful in its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure as its intelligence improves and Ukraine is running low on air defenses. Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine was unable to prevent the destruction of one of its largest power plants, the Trypilska thermal power plant, because it didn’t have enough munitions.
“There were 11 missiles flying. We destroyed the first seven, and [the remaining] four destroyed Trypillia,” Zelensky said. “Why? Because there were zero missiles. We ran out of missiles to defend Trypillia.”
While facing increased Russian missile attacks, Ukrainian forces are also losing territory on the battlefield, and the frontlines are at risk of collapsing. Despite the bleak situation, the US is looking to continue funding the proxy war instead of pushing for diplomacy, and a vote on Ukraine aid could happen in the House this week.
