Ukrainian strikes have already disabled almost 40% of primary oil refining in European Russia
Russia runs its war on refined fuel. Diesel moves trucks and logistics. Jet fuel keeps aviation in the air. Generators need fuel every day, — Hromadske. 1/
Ukraine is hitting the core refinery units that turn crude into usable fuel.
These units are large, complex and hard to replace under sanctions.
Every successful strike removes capacity, adds repair time and increases pressure on the Russian fuel system. 2/
The route from refinery to front is long.
Fuel leaves the plant, moves to depots, goes by rail toward Rostov or Bataysk, reaches local bases, then moves by tanker trucks to Russian units.
Every broken refinery creates delays across this route. 3/
Since April 1, Moscow has banned gasoline exports. Since June 1, it has banned aviation kerosene exports.
Fuel shortages have reached some Rosneft stations in Belgorod and Kursk regions. 4/
Russia is pulling more fuel from Belarus.
Belarusian gasoline sales on the St Petersburg exchange are 26 times higher than last year. Diesel sales are 3 times higher.
Moscow is using imports and subsidies to cover gaps created by Ukrainian strikes. 5/
Aviation is one of the key pressure points.
Some of the targeted refineries supply fuel for Russian strategic and tactical aircraft.
Less aviation fuel means more friction for the planes launching missiles and dropping glide bombs on Ukrainian cities. 6/
Russia repairs one damaged unit. Ukraine hits another. Repair crews, spare parts and sanctions all become part of the same bottleneck.
The fuel machine keeps losing capacity, time and flexibility. 7/
Russian officials are already admitting pressure.
Alexander Novak said oil production is lower than at the start of the year because several refineries are undergoing “unscheduled maintenance.”
That is the bureaucratic phrase for a refinery system under attack. 8/
The next stage is heavier Ukrainian missiles.
Drones with 100 kg warheads damage refinery towers and trigger fires. Larger cruise or ballistic missiles can turn critical units into scrap metal.
Repair then becomes a year-long problem. 9/
If Ukraine keeps this tempo and adds heavier missile strikes, local fuel shortages in Russia can grow into a systemic crisis by Q4.
The next possible step from Moscow: a diesel export ban. 10X
Russia killed her husband when she was 20. She became an FPV pilot and killed an enemy pilot. First in her battalion.
Iryna “Bilka” Kolobaeva for Radio Svoboda: After around 2 weeks from the burial, I started regaining consciousness and understood it would be revenge.
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Bilka: During my last shift before leave, I destroyed my first enemy vehicle. There isn’t much in our sector, so this is a big deal.
I also have the battalion’s first enemy pilot kill to my credit. I’m the first girl in the battalion, and I destroyed the first enemy pilot.
2/
Bilka: When my husband and I were hanging out in Lyman, he never led me by central streets. He said we were always walking by those scary corners, so I know hidden ways “just in case.”
He knew I would work here. Knowing those ways helps me.
Kuleba: Name one Ukrainian politician of national significance who builds their rating on anti-Polish slogans. You can't. In Poland there are many.
And the president leads them, not with open slogans, but with actions that make life worse for Ukrainians in Poland and at home. 1/
Kuleba: Poland's core interest: if Ukraine falls, Poland is next. Every Polish politician believes this. Ukraine's core interest: EU membership.
These two issues must be encapsulated and protected from the political storms that will keep tearing at our countries. 2/
Kuleba: We must remember 2022 with gratitude, Poles opened doors, hearts and arms when it defied all logic of prior relations
But now Ukraine must support Ukrainians in Poland. These constant scandals will accelerate their assimilation. People will stop being openly Ukrainian 3/
Bolton: Iran deal requires Israel to withdraw all forces from Lebanon. I see zero chance of that.
But it gives Iran, through Hezbollah, the ability to punish Israel and have Trump and Vance criticize the Israelis for defending themselves. A powerful political weapon. 1/
Bolton: This deal is a powerful tool to split the Great Satan from the Little Satan.
Vance's vitriol toward Israel, saying it was 'built with American money', won't sit well with Israelis or Americans who view Israel as a key ally. Vance has embraced the role of architect here. 2/
Bolton: Compare the rhetoric of JD Vance on Iran to Rob Malley and Barack Obama. It's very hard to tell the difference
Trump jokingly said he might blame Vance if this doesn't go well. If Vance wants this deal, fine, but if he doesn't, he'll have to find his own way out of it 3X