Ukraine ignores America, continues drone attacks in Russia

Ukraine ignores US requests to stop drone strikes deep into Russia. Washington not only fears higher oil prices now that Kyiv is setting fire to one Russian oil refinery after another with drones, the Americans are also afraid of an uncontrollable escalation. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s own long-range drone industry is gaining traction.

Kyiv has now invested hundreds of millions of dollars in setting up its own industry for the production of long-range drones, a response to Western reluctance to supply the country with long-range weapons. Meanwhile, about six Ukrainian companies produce drones that can attack targets deep in Russia. One of the latest models even has a range of 3,000 kilometers, making it capable of attacking targets as far away as Siberia.

Washington not happy

But the United States is not happy with these developments and is urging the Ukrainians to exercise restraint in in-depth drone strikes. The Americans do this because they fear a further increase in oil prices if the Russian oil industry becomes further disrupted. But Washington also fears a tit-for-tat escalation from Russia.

Also read | ‘Two weeks before Russia invaded, we pitched drone radars for Ukraine’

In late March, Russia damaged Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to the tune of millions of dollars in massive attacks, painfully demonstrating how porous and vulnerable Ukraine’s air defenses are. For example, on April 11, Russian Kh-69 missiles destroyed the Trypilska power plant in Ukraine, 40 kilometers from the capital – a target that is nevertheless within range of the capital’s Patriot air defense systems.

Kyiv ignores Washington

So far, Ukraine is ignoring US advice to call off the attacks. A Ukrainian intelligence officer partly responsible for the program told The Economist that he “has not received any instructions to scale down operations.” According to one of the drone manufacturers, the American attitude is ambiguous; one of his American contacts ‘winked’ while simultaneously issuing a warning. “They tell us privately that we have to continue,” said the producer, noting that Ukraine’s drone program will be greatly expanded in the coming months. “Russia is scorching the Ukrainian earth. It’s time we do the same with European Russia.’

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In early April, concerned US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Ukraine against attacks on Russian oil refineries during a Senate committee hearing. Austin then emphasized that it is strategically important that Ukraine focus its military efforts on tactical and operational objectives that directly impact the current conflict.