Ukraine Defies U.S. Order to Stop Attacking Russian Oil Refineries

“Nobody after two years of large-scale war can dictate conditions for waging this war in Ukraine.” So says Zelensky’s aid, Mykhailo Podolyak.

The United States has urged Ukraine to stop attacking Russia’s oil refineries, fearing a surge in global oil prices and Russian retaliation. Washington issued warnings to senior officials at Ukraine’s state security service, the SBU, and its military intelligence directorate, known as the GUR, as per the Financial Times. Oil has risen 12 percent since March 12, 2024.

Ukraine has knocked another Russian oil refinery out of commission along with one of the country’s largest power plants in another long-range drone attack. Video from the Kuybyshevsky oil refinery in Samara, 560 miles from Ukraine, shows drones circling overhead and slamming down into the refinery, causing large fires to break out.

The drones, which have a distinctive V-shaped tail fin are the same ones used to target the Ryazan oil refinery a fortnight ago, blowing up the distillation towers and putting the facility out of action long-term.

More footage shows Ukrainian drones hitting the Novocherkassk power plant, located in the city of the same name just a short distance from the border. Again, flames could be seen lighting up the night sky as the plant – one of the largest in Russian – was repeatedly struck, though the extent of the damage was not immediately clear. Ukraine is in the midst of a campaign of long-range drone strikes against Russia, designed to rob the state of lucrative oil exports it uses to fuel its war machine and cause as much disruption to the lives of ordinary Russians as possible.

However, senior Ukrainian officials defended Kyiv’s attacks on oil infrastructure deep within Russian territory. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Olha Stefanishyna, said refineries in Russia are legitimate targets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s aid, Mykhailo Podolyak, said, “Nobody after two years of large-scale war can dictate conditions for waging this war in Ukraine.”

Russia returns the favor

Three days ago-

Europe has been egging on Zelensky to expand his horizon in land to bomb. They have gotten more than they expected.

Feeling pert with his new weapons as I reported last week Zelensky’s new BFF

UK Tells Ukraine to Pivot Towards Crimea

The British seem to think Crimea and the British long range missiles are the way to go. No doubt because Ukraine is running out of humans to put into the meat grinder. More on what we are not being told regarding Ukraine.

…British military officials advised that Ukraine should focus on defense in its ground fight against Russia in the east while focusing on targeted strikes against Crimea and Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, The Sunday Timesreported.

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“This will allow the Ukrainians to focus their efforts on the Black Sea and Crimea, where their forces, with the help of Western long-range missiles, have landed significant blows over the past six months,” the report said.

A recording of a conversation between German military officers that was recently published by Russian media revealed that the UK has soldiers “on the ground” in Ukraine helping Ukrainian forces use Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of 155 miles, making them capable of hitting targets throughout Crimea.

Attacks on Crimea have always been considered a red line for Russian President Vladimir Putin. But the risk of escalation hasn’t stopped Ukraine’s Western backers from assisting with such strikes, as Storm Shadows have been reported to be used in multiple Ukrainian attacks on Crimea.

OK so the new toys are being employed. There is no sound in the beginning clip. Later at about 4:50 Ukraine gives the spin. Describes the full range of the attack Two days ago.

Another BFF is Macron. He too sees no problem with Ukraine going rogue and what after all is the problem with another world war.

• War Cry from Macron Over Ukraine – The Coming Conflict

Then we have DW News- German Public Broadcasting Service

Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė was in Berlin Thursday for defense and security talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Support for Ukraine’s war with Russia and German plans to station troops in Lithuania were on the agenda. After the meeting DW News spoke to Prime Minister Lithuanian Šimonytė.

News from the “Front” wherever that may be….. Europe will start another war, and it will be expected that the U.S. will clean up the mess.

The best of the swamp.