Ukraine’s increased attacks on Russia’s energy facilities have triggered fuel shortage and surge in oil prices in the country. The fuel shortage coincides with the peak seasonal demand. Ukrainian drones and missiles have been relentlessly attacking Russia’s oil refineries, pumping stations, fuel trains and other facilities in an attempt to weaken the Kremlin’s war efforts and to disrupt daily life. According to Moscow Times report, in August alone, Ukrainian long-range drone strikes destroyed around 13 percent of the Russia’s oil refining capacity.
In the latest major attack, Ukrainian air raids knocked out Unechna oil pumping station – a critical part of Russia’s Druzhba oil pipeline - in western Bryansk region on August 22. Regional authorities said Ukrainian drone and missile strikes set fire to a “fuel infrastructure site” in the Unechsky district.
The attack caused temporary suspension of oil supply to Hungary and Slovakia, the second time this week. Foreign ministries of Hungary and Slovakia – the two Moscow-friendly countries - said in a joint statement that “within just nine days, the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies oil to Hungary and subsequently Slovakia, has suffered its third incident of damage.” The ministers jointly called on “European Commission to immediately ensure that commitments to safeguard the energy security of EU member states are upheld.” Beginning in Russia, the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline transports oil through Belarus and Ukraine to Slovakia and Hungary.
Earlier on August 21, Ukrainian drones struck Novoshakhtinsky Oil Refinery in Russia’s southern Rostov Region, causing strong fire that was impossible to extinguish for several days. The refinery was also attacked on December 24 last year. Ukraine has justified its attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak stating this week that “In 2022, Russia did everything to deprive Ukraine of fuel.
Now they suddenly face a shortage themselves. That’s what happens when you attack Ukrainians.”
