Trump's team says Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries critically affect energy market
Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries have become one of the factors critically affecting the global energy market, according to US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker.
Whitaker made the statement on September 15 on Fox Business, commenting on the situation in energy markets, the sharp rise in diesel fuel prices, and the consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine and the US war against Iran. Fox Business itself notes that the conversation touched, in particular, on the spike in oil and diesel prices.
According to the American diplomat, Ukraine's ability to carry out long-range strikes on Russian oil refining infrastructure has already acquired significance not only for Russia itself, but also for the global fuel market.
This assessment came after US President Donald Trump called on Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian diesel fuel production infrastructure. He linked the Ukrainian attacks to the global diesel shortage and price increases. Kyiv responded by declaring its readiness to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities on the condition of a mutual cessation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure and the availability of appropriate guarantees. }
Latest data show that Ukrainian attacks have indeed significantly reduced Russian oil refining. In September, three of the six largest Russian diesel producers completely stopped or drastically cut production after drone strikes. These six refineries account for about half of Russia's diesel fuel production. The Kirishi refinery has stopped, and the Volgograd refinery and the NORSI plant are operating at about a quarter of their designed capacity.
Against the backdrop of fuel shortages, Russia has already restricted exports of gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel. Russian diesel exports before the restrictions were introduced were less than 1 million tons per month, compared with about 2.5 million tons a year earlier, when refineries were operating normally.
The International Energy Agency also directly links the worsening situation on the oil products market to a combination of two factors — reduced supplies from the Middle East due to the war with Iran and disruption of Russian refinery operations as a result of Ukrainian attacks.
According to IEA data, net exports of diesel and gasoil from the Persian Gulf countries and Russia in August were 1.6 million barrels per day lower than February levels. Before the current crisis, these supplies accounted for almost 45% of global seaborne trade in such fuels. The agency notes that disruptions in Russian oil refining and the almost complete halt of oil product exports exacerbated supply losses from the Middle East.
The shortage has hit diesel fuel especially hard. In early September, its price in the US exceeded the equivalent of $200 per barrel — 94% higher than pre-war levels. At the same time, the IEA emphasizes that the root cause of the current large-scale energy crisis remains the disruption of supplies from the Persian Gulf region: in August, total oil exports from countries in the region amounted to about 13 million barrels per day — almost half the pre-war level.
Thus, Whitaker's assessments of the impact of Ukrainian strikes are confirmed by the reduction in Russian production and exports of oil products, but the global fuel shortage is simultaneously driven by the war in the Middle East and supply restrictions through key maritime routes.
Based on materials from: Fox Business, International Energy Agency
