Kallas: Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries constitute self-defence

Kaja Kallas frames the refinery strikes as defensive, not as separate attacks unrelated to the battlefield. She says Russia uses oil revenue to finance its war and the killing of Ukrainians. In her view, damaging that funding source helps Ukraine protect itself. She also says the fastest way to stop the strikes is to end Russia’s war of aggression.

Her argument rests on what she calls the wider pattern of attacks. Russia targets energy infrastructure inside Ukraine, aiming to cause suffering during the coming winter. Ukraine targets Russian refineries because they are linked to the money supporting the war. Kallas says international law makes this a defence of Ukraine.

The dispute continues during the proposed energy ceasefire. Kallas says Europe should pressure Russia, the aggressor, rather than Ukraine, the victim. Ukraine says it paused strikes for three days at Washington’s request, while Russian attacks continued. Zelenskyy then said the block on refinery attacks was over.

An oil refinery is a plant that processes crude oil into refined products, including fuels such as diesel, petrol and jet fuel. This basic definition comes from established energy knowledge; the article focuses on why refineries matter in the war. Refineries connect raw oil to products that can be sold or used.

They may become military targets because fuel supports transport, aircraft, ships and other operations. Refineries also help turn oil into revenue. Kaja Kallas says most financing for Russia’s war comes from oil, making the facilities part of the economic system behind the fighting. Ukraine therefore presents refinery strikes as defensive.

The article describes a large campaign against Russian oil infrastructure. Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said 12 major refineries were struck in September. The IEA reported that only five of Russia’s 32 major refineries had escaped drone attacks by late August. Some facilities had been hit as many as 15 times since 2022.

Ukraine’s campaign against Russian oil infrastructure has been extensive and repeated. The strikes focus on major refineries, which are important parts of Russia’s oil system. Their importance comes from their role in processing oil and generating funds that Kaja Kallas says support the war.

Ukraine’s Defence Ministry reported that 12 major refineries were struck in September alone. The International Energy Agency gave a broader measure by late August: only five of Russia’s 32 major refineries had escaped Ukrainian drone attacks. This means attacks reached nearly all of the major facilities identified in that account.

Some refineries were hit repeatedly. The IEA said certain facilities had been struck as many as 15 times since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine paused attacks on Russian energy facilities for three days at Washington’s request, according to Zelenskyy. He later said the block was over and Kyiv would resume strikes.

The proposed energy ceasefire was an arrangement for Russia and Ukraine to stop targeting each other’s energy infrastructure. It followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a deal for Russia to supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel during a global energy crunch. The idea was to reduce attacks on energy facilities.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had halted strikes on Russian energy facilities for three days at Washington’s request. He said Moscow continued attacking Ukrainian infrastructure and killing civilians during that pause. He also accused Washington of suspending intelligence-sharing and disrupting Starlink services. These developments shaped Kyiv’s decision to restore the attacks.

Zelenskyy told the Financial Times, “The block” on attacking refineries was over. The Kremlin questioned whether any ceasefire existed, asking about its boundaries and meaning. Dmitry Peskov said work on the issue was continuing. The arrangement therefore remained disputed rather than clearly implemented.

When refineries are damaged, a country can lose some capacity to process crude oil into usable fuels. That may complicate supplies for vehicles and military operations. Damage can also reduce the oil system’s ability to generate revenue. These are established effects of refinery disruption, while the article does not quantify Russia’s losses or the exact market impact.

The article connects refineries directly to war finance. Kaja Kallas says the majority of financing for Russia’s war comes from oil. Ukraine’s strikes therefore aim at infrastructure that supports both fuel production and the money behind Russia’s campaign. The reported attacks were widespread, with some facilities struck repeatedly.

Energy markets are also part of the situation. Trump announced a deal for Russia to supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel during a global energy crunch. The article does not state how refinery damage changed prices or supply. It does show that attacks, diesel trade and the proposed energy ceasefire are closely connected.

Intelligence-sharing gives Ukraine information that can support military planning and operations. Starlink satellite internet provides communications connectivity. The article does not detail specific missions or technical systems, but it presents both as important to Ukraine’s ability to fight Russia. Losing either could make operations harder to coordinate.

Zelenskyy said US officials warned that intelligence-sharing would be suspended unless Kyiv stopped attacking Russian refineries. He also said the subsequent disruption was described as a technical problem. Zelenskyy rejected that explanation, saying the interruption was deliberate. He likewise accused Washington of disrupting Starlink services.

The issue arose after Ukraine paused strikes on Russian energy facilities for three days at Washington’s request. Zelenskyy said Russia continued attacking Ukrainian infrastructure and killing civilians during that period. He then declared the block on refinery attacks over. The episode shows how US support and Ukrainian operational choices became directly linked.

Crude oil is raw petroleum. In a refinery, it is heated and separated, then processed into products such as diesel, petrol and other fuels. This general explanation comes from established energy knowledge; the article does not describe the technical stages. The key point is that refineries convert crude into useful and saleable energy products.

That conversion creates both supplies and income. Fuel can support transport and military activity, while exported oil products can bring money into a state’s economy. A country with more revenue can use it to purchase equipment, pay personnel and sustain operations. The article specifically connects oil income with Russia’s war effort.

Kaja Kallas says the majority of financing for the war comes from oil. That is why Ukraine targets Russian refineries, while Russia attacks Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The article presents refinery strikes as an attempt to weaken the financial base of the war, although it gives no exact revenue or production figures.