Ukraine’s Drone War Hammers Russia's Oil Sector, Trump Weighs In
Ukraine’s intensified drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure is putting fresh pressure on Moscow’s oil-refining sector. A major Ukrainian attack on September 20 damaged the Moscow Oil Refinery, forcing crude processing to be suspended, with repairs expected to take several weeks. US President Donald Trump has said Russia has “lost control” of its diesel industry, pointing to the impact of repeated strikes on refineries. The attacks come as Russia’s refining capacity faces disruption and fuel supply concerns, while Moscow has vowed retaliation. At the same time, NATO and European allies are stepping up support for Ukraine, including additional air-defence assistance and funding. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said allies have allocated more than $10 billion through the PURL initiative and US Foreign Military Sales for Ukraine over the past year. With the Russia-Ukraine war intensifying on both the battlefield and energy front, concerns over further escalation and its wider economic impact are growing ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York.
