President Zelensky of Ukraine recently expressed his disagreement with the United States’ response to Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries in an interview with the Washington Post. Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s right to use its own weapons for self-defense and stated that targeting Russian energy infrastructure is a legitimate military strategy. Despite concerns from the U.S., Ukrainian officials asserted that these attacks adhere to NATO standards. The United States allegedly urged Ukraine to limit attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, citing potential repercussions on global oil prices. However, Zelensky defended Ukraine’s use of drones in these attacks, stating that Washington could not limit Ukraine’s use of weapons of its own production.
Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries have continued as a form of retaliation for Russian attacks on critical infrastructure and align with Ukraine’s military objectives. A recent attack on March 17 successfully targeted 12 Russian oil refineries, amounting to about 12% of Russia’s oil-processing capacity. These strikes have intensified amidst a new series of missile and drone assaults initiated by Russian forces between March 21 and March 25 in Ukraine. The attacks caused significant damage to Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, including the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant, Ukraine’s largest hydroelectric station, leaving 1.5 million Ukrainian residents without power across various regions. Deputy Minister of Energy Svitlana Hrynchuk reported that Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure since the start of the full-scale invasion have caused at least $11.5 billion in damage.
In response to the ongoing aggression from Russia, President Zelensky defended Ukraine’s actions, stating that if there is no air defense to protect their power system and Russia attacks it, then Ukraine has the right to hit back. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine will continue these attacks as long as Russia continues its offensive moves. The intensified conflict between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in Russia launching a major attack across Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure. Russian forces fired 29 cruise missiles and 28 Shahed drones in a large-scale attack that targeted eight regions in the west, center, north, and south of Ukraine, according to the Air Force.
The attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and critical facilities have had severe repercussions, leaving millions of Ukrainian residents without power and causing significant damage to the nation’s infrastructure. Despite concerns from the United States, President Zelensky remains steadfast in his defense of Ukraine’s right to self-defense and its military strategies. The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia poses a grave threat to regional stability and has resulted in significant economic damage to Ukraine. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely and provide support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
As the conflict escalates, it is crucial for independent journalism to report on the situation in Ukraine and provide accurate information to the public. Support for independent media outlets in Ukraine is essential in ensuring that the truth is shared and that the voices of those affected by the conflict are heard. By supporting independent journalism in Ukraine, individuals can contribute to the fight for freedom of speech and the dissemination of unbiased information in a challenging and volatile environment. Joining the fight for independent journalism in Ukraine is a critical step in standing with the Ukrainian people and supporting their right to defend themselves against aggression and threats to their sovereignty.
