Ukraine's presidential office reacts to calls of allies to halt strikes on Russian oil depots
Photo: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (facebook.com/zelenskyy.official)
Western partners have asked Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian oil terminals, but Kyiv continues to act in its own national interests, stated Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, according to Ukrinform.
Ukraine’s stance on refinery strikes
Speaking at a briefing during the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Budanov confirmed that such requests from allies do exist.
According to him, the main concern among partners is global energy pricing.
"I can only say in general terms: yes, such a situation exists. Why? You can understand it too — it’s about price formation. But we have our own war," Budanov said.
He added that Ukraine has faced similar restrictions and remarks regarding the use of foreign weapons or equipment on Russian territory throughout the full-scale invasion.
National interests come first
Despite the pressure, Ukraine does not plan to abandon its strategy of targeting enemy infrastructure that supports Russia’s military and budget.
"They can be understood — it’s their truth. But there is also our truth and our national interest. And it is exactly what it is. We are not stopping," Budanov concluded.
Consequences of attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure
In recent weeks, Ukrainian drones have been systematically targeting energy facilities on the territory of Russia. In particular, a series of strikes on Russian oil terminals in the Baltic region has already cost the Kremlin nearly $1 billion in lost export revenue alone.
Following an April 5 attack, the Nizhny Novgorod Refinery (NORSI), the fourth-largest oil refinery in Russia, processing around 16 million tons of crude annually, was forced to halt operations.
In addition, on the night of April 9, drones struck the Krymsk oil pumping station in Russia’s Krasnodar region, a strategic hub in the country’s oil pipeline system.
