After more than a year of whispers and speculation, two of Ukraine’s top leaders have now said it clearly: the United States has asked Ukraine not to attack Russia’s oil and energy systems.
Ukraine Speaks Out After Deadly Russian Oil Strike Fallout
This announcement came shortly after a major Russian attack on Ukraine’s power network. Missiles, drones, and ballistic weapons were used to target critical energy sites, including the facility in Kremenchuk. These attacks caused large-scale damage to Ukraine’s power supply and created more difficulties for people already suffering due to the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke out strongly after the assault. He said the attack came “right after Putin’s conversation with Trump.” He also revealed, for the first time, that “the Americans asked us not to strike Russian energy facilities.” Zelensky described the timing of the Russian attack as “a spit in the face” to global peace efforts.
This is the first time Ukraine’s leader has directly said that Western allies—especially the U.S.—are stopping Ukraine from hitting Russian energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russia continues to make Ukraine’s energy system one of its main wartime targets.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Confirms the Same
Just hours after Zelensky’s comments, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko backed up his claims. In her own statement, she said, “Some allies have asked us not to strike Russian energy infrastructure—even as Russia wages all-out war on ours.”
She pointed out how Russia has been hitting all kinds of Ukrainian energy sources—power plants, oil and gas stations, and even hydroelectric dams. These attacks have left many Ukrainians without electricity, heating, or fuel, especially during the winter months.
Svyrydenko’s remarks support what many analysts have long believed: Ukraine has been under outside pressure to avoid hitting back at the very same kind of facilities in Russia. The main reason? To avoid creating more problems for global oil markets, especially rising fuel prices.
Ukrainian officials say they even stopped hitting Russian refineries for around 45 days just before the 2024 U.S. presidential election. They only resumed attacks on these targets on election night. Though not officially confirmed, this gap in attacks suggests Ukraine may have held back to avoid affecting the U.S. political climate.
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US Pressure Seen As a Shield for Russian Oil
This public confirmation has sparked serious questions. Why should Ukraine be asked to protect the very oil systems that help Russia fund its war? According to Zelensky and Svyrydenko, the answer lies in Western fear of global economic consequences. Hitting Russian oil facilities could lead to higher fuel prices around the world. For some countries, especially the U.S., that’s a big concern.
However, for Ukraine, the situation is clear. Russia continues to destroy Ukraine’s energy systems while getting to keep its own safe. This puts Ukraine at a big disadvantage. Ukrainian officials say if they were allowed to target Russia’s energy industry without limits, it would weaken Russia’s war machine.
Zelensky said that the war “would have ended long ago” if the international community had taken stronger actions. He criticized the world for not properly enforcing sanctions or setting real limits on the price of Russian oil. Svyrydenko also called Russia’s oil industry “the financial backbone” of not just the current war, but future ones too.
Western leaders have not commented on these latest Ukrainian statements. Still, the divide is becoming clear. Ukraine wants to strike where it can hurt Russia the most—its energy money. But the West, especially the United States, seems more focused on avoiding larger economic problems that might affect fuel costs or market stability.
Caught Between Defense and Oil Diplomacy
This puts Ukraine in a difficult position. It is trying to defend itself while also being told not to touch certain parts of the enemy’s economy. Meanwhile, its own energy grid is being destroyed day after day.
The growing gap between Ukraine’s military goals and the limits set by its allies shows a major problem. Ukraine believes that the only way to stop Russia is to cut off the resources that power its army. But until that is allowed, Ukraine may continue to face strikes with no full way to fight back.
This situation, now confirmed by Ukraine’s top leaders, shows how the war is being shaped not just by weapons and soldiers, but also by behind-the-scenes decisions made far from the battlefield.