LOS ANGELES (OC).–Ukrainian drones continue to hit Russian oil refineries, this time the Kirshi refindery in Russia’s northwestern Leningrad region, the closest refinery to St. Petersburg, Putin’s home town. When Ukraine’s 47-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t take peace seriously, what can you say about Zelensky authorizing attacks on Russia’s oil infrastructure? All the talk from the European Union is about how Putin defies efforts at peace, refuses to stop the war but Zelensky continues to hit Russia’s oil infrastructure with drone attacks. President Donald Trump said yesterday he would agree to new sanctions against Russia when EU countries stop buying oil from Russia and sanction countries like China and India for buying cheap Russian oil. So, when it comes to peacemaking, striking Russia’s oil infrastructure is no act of peace.
U.S. and EU officials have to stop saying the Russia is the aggressor in the current war. Whether Putin was justified or not invading Ukraine Feb. 24, 2022, both sides continue to use whatever resources they have to attack each other, with Ukraine focusing on Russia’s oil infrastructure. Striking one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, Zelensky hoped to impact Russia’s war-making machine. Producing 1.7 metric tons per year [355,000 barrels a day] Kirishi’s refinery is one of Russia’s top three by oil output. Zelensky has used drone warfare to level the playing field with Russia having more long-range ballistic missile capacity. Regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko three drones were downed overnight but falling debris set the refinery on fire that was quickly extinguished. But let there be no mistake, Ukraine’s drone capability can hit deep inside Russia.
Zelensky has been asking German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for long-range German-made Taurus missiles, something Ukraine says it needs to defend itself. So far, Merz has not approved the sale to Zelensky but he’s leaning in that direction. Because of Ukrainian drone attacks at Russian oil refineries, Russia has experienced fuel shortages, causing long lines at the pump and even gas station closures. Russian officials could play down the significance of Ukrainian strikes. Russian authorities said at least 80 drones were shot down overnight in the Crimean Peninsula and Sea of Azov according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Nowhere in the Western Press do they report on Ukraine’s attacks deep inside Russia, only reporting on Russia sending drones in Polish or Romanian air space. White House officials must take note of Zelensky’s attacks on Russian oil facilities.
Russia has started to pause oil exports because of damage done to its oil refineries. Russian officials don’t expect it to last too long, with repairs made to refineries happening daily. Russia announced an export ban would start Sept. 30 and last until Oct. 31. Russian authorities reported a trail derailment due to drone attacks, killing the engineer, trapping him in the cabin when a fire broke out. Gov. Drozdenko said the incident took place near Gatchia south of St. Petersburg, Russia’s second largest city. Other alleged Ukrainian attacks occurred in Russia’s Oryol regions killing three people, attesting to how Zelensky has actively been involved in the war. Zelensky presents to the EU and foreign press that he wants peace and only Putin actively engages in continued combat. But striking Russia’s oil infrastructure shows that Zelensky is actively engaged in two-way war.
Zelensky can’t have it both ways, pretending he wants peace but actively engaged in striking Russia’s oil infrastructure. If he’s given more long-range missiles, like he asked Germany, Zelensky won’t hesitate to hit any Russia targets including St. Basil’s onion-shaped cathedral in Red Square. Zelensky has complained to Trump and the EU that Putin doesn’t want peace because he won’t agree to a 30-day ceasefire. Well, Zelensky has rejected any of Putin’s peace proposals, especially on the thorny issue of surrendering Ukrainian sovereign land to end the war. Zelensky and his EU partners led by French President Emmanuel Macron have rejected the idea that Putin should get any Ukrainian territory, despite winning it in over three-and-a-half-years of war. Zelensky expects to get back all the lost territory, something Putin rejects out of hand.
Zelensky says he wants peace but has been hitting Russia’s oil infrastructure with drone attacks and bombings of Russia’s railroad tracks. When it comes to ending the war, Zelensky rejects all of Trump’s past peacemaking, refusing to trade land-for-peace. EU officials like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have been calling Putin a “war criminal” and “predator” recently, showing no signs that they’re looking to end the war. EU officials have said that the security of the EU is now at stake in the Ukraine War, thinking that Putin has his eyes set on taking more EU territory once he ends the Ukraine War. Where the EU gets that idea is anyone’s guess? Putin has never said that he wants to pick a fight with NATO. So, when it comes to the Ukraine War, Zelensky remains just as active as Putin.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
