On Monday 5 October, Donald Trump, President of the United States (US), said, strikes by Ukraine on Russia’s oil refineries are “driving up gasoline”, and not the war in Iran.
He also said, the prices of gasoline is on the increase in the United States (US) because the Democrats are closing up refineries in the “Blue States”.
The statement by the US President is coming as Ukraine continued its long-range strikes on Russian energy facilities. Kyiv has said, its latest attacks have crippled over half of Russia’s oil refining capacity.
Via Truth Social, President Trump posted: “What’s driving up Gasoline is no longer the Strait of Hormuz, because Record Numbers of Barrels are coming out now on an almost daily basis, but the word, “Refineries,” where Russia’s are being blown up by Ukraine, and where ours are being closed up, in Blue States, like California, by the Dumocrats.”
The Defence Ministry of Russia disclosed, strikes on refineries in the Capital, Moscow, alongside Yaroslavl, Ust-Luga, Perm, Saratov and Syzran have incapacitated “51%” of the country’s refining capacity.
Following continued attacks from Ukraine, Russia has battled fuel supply problems. According to the International Energy Agency, diesel output had fallen by about 30 per cent, while drivers had faced waits of up to 40 hours at petrol stations.
Some Russian refineries have been struck severally, these attacks have forced emergency repairs and operational changes.
The Defense Ministry of Ukraine posted on X: “More than 51% of Russia’s oil refining capacity is out of action.”
Evgeniy Khmara, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, said: “More than half of the enemy’s capacity has been knocked out. This is the result of carefully planned, methodical, and systematic work aimed at bleeding the Russian war machine dry and destroying its military-economic potential.”
The Defense Ministry listed areas in Russia where refineries were recently struck. It posted: “Recently struck: the Moscow, Yaroslavl, KINEF (Kirishi), Ust-Luga, Perm, Ilsky, Saratov, and Syzran refineries and processing facilities, among others.”
It said, its strikes on Russia are not immediately “visible” but are “accumulating”, as it revealed, Ukraine “tripled” production of long-range strike drones which are helping “strike deep” into Russia’s territories.
It further posted: “The results of Ukrainian operations are not always visible right away. But the effect accumulates, and it shows.
“Long-range strike drones are one of the Ministry’s priorities. This year, we have tripled production and procurement. That is not the limit. Deep strike capabilities will keep scaling.”
Minister Khmara added: “51% of refining capacity struck is a serious blow to the enemy’s economy, to its ability to wage aggression and to supply its forces. Our deep strikes keep bringing the war onto Russian territory.”
