Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Western sources revealed that the United States has helped Ukraine over the past months carry out long-range strikes targeting Russian energy facilities.
This is part of a coordinated effort to weaken the Russian economy and force Vladimir Putin to sit at the negotiating table.
The British newspaper, Financial Times, quoted Ukrainian and American officials as saying that the American intelligence information exchanged with Kiev enabled Ukrainian forces to strike oil refineries and energy facilities located far from the battle lines.
The sources added that American support has escalated since mid-summer.
In addition, she reported that it was decisive in the success of strikes that the administration of former US President Joe Biden had warned Kiev against carrying out.
The newspaper explained that these strikes led to an increase in energy prices inside Russia.
Moscow was also forced to reduce diesel exports and rely on importing fuel from abroad.
A shift in the American position
The report says the intelligence sharing represents the latest indication that US President Donald Trump has deepened his support for Ukraine as his “miserable resentment” toward Moscow grows.
This shift goes back to a phone call that took place last July (July) between Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, during which the US President asked his Ukrainian counterpart about the possibility of Ukraine striking Moscow if Washington provided it with long-range weapons.
The newspaper quoted two informed sources as saying that during the call, Trump expressed his support for a strategy aimed at “making the Russians feel pain” to push the Kremlin towards negotiations.
While the White House later clarified that the president “was just asking, not encouraging fighting”.
America’s participation in planning the attacks
The report indicated that American information helped Kiev determine the routes of drones, the timing of attacks, and the appropriate altitudes to evade Russian air defenses.
Three officials familiar with the operations said Washington was closely involved in all stages of planning these attacks.
Ukraine chooses targets while the United States provides information about its weaknesses.
The sources added that some American units have prioritized targets for the Ukrainians.
One official described the Ukrainian control force as “Washington’s tool to weaken the Russian economy and push Putin towards a settlement.”
Most of the deep strikes are attributed to the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) along with other intelligence and military units.
Last Saturday, the Special Alpha Unit of the Ukrainian Security Service announced the implementation of a successful strike with long-range aircraft against the Bashneft-on-BZ refinery in the Russian city of Ufa, about 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine.
It is one of the largest refineries supplying fuel to the Russian army.
Hit 16 refineries
For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier this month that it was “clear” that the United States and NATO were providing intelligence information to Ukraine “on a regular basis”.
Including information aimed at carrying out strikes on Russian energy facilities.
Despite Washington’s increasing involvement in the Ukrainian strikes, the United States does not officially acknowledge its direct role in these strikes.
It remains wary of any escalation that might drag it into a direct confrontation with Moscow.
According to a Financial Times report, Ukraine has targeted at least 16 of Russia’s 38 refineries, some more than once.
Which disrupted the production of more than one million barrels per day.
Video clips circulating on Russian social media showed huge fires in oil and gas facilities inside Russia.
In this context, Zelensky said that Moscow has begun importing gasoline “especially from Belarus and China”.
This came after it lost up to 20 percent of its production capacity as a result of Ukrainian strikes.
He also stressed that his country will continue to expand the scope of its operations inside Russia.
