Drone economic war

According to Bloomberg, three Russian refineries, which represent 12% of the country's oil refining capacity, have halted operations or scaled back production recently due to drone attacks by Ukrainians.

These disruptions stem from a coordinated drone strike by the SBU on three oil refineries simultaneously. The targeted refineries include those in Ryazan (a significant fuel supplier for the Moscow region), Kstovo (in the Nizhny Novgorod region), and Kirishy (the sole refinery in northwestern Russia, located in the Leningrad region). Sources confirm that these attacks are part of a series of deliberate operations aimed at crippling enemy refineries, initiated by the Security Service.

"We are executing a meticulously planned strategy to diminish Russia's economic strength. Our objective is to deprive the adversary of resources and curtail the flow of oil funds and fuel, which the Russian Federation channels directly into the war, killing our citizens," stated a source within the SBU.

Footage circulating online indicates significant repercussions from the attack. It's worth noting that the targeted refineries rank among the top 5 largest facilities in Russia.

This presents a compelling case for allies who are becoming increasingly skeptical about the effectiveness of sanctions, especially in the oil sector, due to frequent circumvention. Drone attacks swiftly disrupt exports and severely limit internal fuel supplies, resulting in an immediate and significant drop in oil revenues. Allies recognize the potential of such tools in addressing the economic support of the Russian attack, especially with reports emerging of large drone deliveries to Ukraine in recent days.

As observed by us and our allies, SBU drones prove to be the most effective means of hampering the Russian military's operations. Sanctions typically entail a significant time lag, and we lack the resources to patiently await the enemy's economic strangulation. However, when combined with targeted attacks, the impact is immediate and evident.

"Drone economic warfare" is a novel concept in modern military theory, introduced by the SBU, a special service rather than a military department. This approach goes hand in hand with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles armed with heavy firepower, along with other cutting-edge strategies for large-scale warfare.

While disrupting the enemy's fuel capabilities, the SBU simultaneously targets its military infrastructure. In addition to strikes on oil refineries, drones have targeted the Russian Air Force base in Buturlinovka and the military airfield in Voronezh, among other defense structures.

Source

About the author. Oleksiy Holobutskyi, political scientist

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