Oil Chaos in Russia, Amid New Ukrainian Campaign

KYIV—Russia tried to freeze Ukrainians. Now Ukraine is melting down Russia’s oil empire. Ukraine has knocked out 13% of Russia's oil refinery capacity in weeks. Kyiv calls it “direct sanctions.” This was achieved with “toys.” But now Ukraine’s unveiled a monster …

Scenes across Russia this week:

- Long lines of cars & trucks at gas stations 

- Hours-long waits 

- Record-high prices.

Social media is flooded with videos from regions across Russia—and occupied Crimea—showing the growing Russian fuel crisis.

Since early August, as reported by David Kirichenko at the Atlantic Council, Ukrainian drones have disabled about 13% of Russia’s refining capacity, during peak summer travel for people not welcome in other lands AND just as the harvest season begins. All in just a few weeks!

Ukraine’s strikes now look like a campaign. Consider the hits on the Druzhba pipeline—Russia’s oil lifeline to Hungary & Slovakia:

Aug 12: Unecha junction (Bryansk)

Aug 17–18: Nikolskoye station (Tambov)

Aug 21: Unecha

Aug 22: Unecha again, exports stopped for days

Reports say Ukraine used American HIMARS rockets in the latest Druzhba strikes. Under Biden, Ukraine was generally banned from firing HIMARS into Russian territory, with some notable exceptions.

So the question: Is the leash slipping?

Speaking of weapons… Ukraine just unveiled the Flamingo —a long-range missiles said to carry a 1-ton payload and fly up to 1,200 km into Russian territory.

What began with “toys” is now scaling into monsters. [The recent report of a month's-old Pentagon refusal to let Ukraine use ATACMS/Attack-ems against Russia is a separate matter].

Remember Ukraine knocked out 13% of Russia’s refining capacity with less expensive, improvised drones and possibly recently with HIMARS. If the Flamingo enters mass use—with its 1-ton punch and 1,200 km reach—the oil biz that funds the Russian Killing Machine faces chaos.

Hungary & Slovakia—the loudest EU voices against Ukraine—are now furious that their oil, which funds the Russian War Machine, got cut off. Here’s how Poland’s Foreign Minister @sikorskiradek answered Hungary’s FM @FM_Szijjarto:

From 2022-2024, Russia weaponized energy to freeze Ukrainians in the winter. It didn't work. Now in the summer of Russia's discontent, Ukraine is weaponizing energy back—torching the oil empire that fuels Putin’s war machine.

I'm JP Lindsley, the only American who has reported from Ukraine every day of Russia's full-scale war. Follow along as I keep the streak going, uncovering the reality of resistance and war.