‘Stop Buying Russian Oil’: Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Refinery as Trump Puts Pressure on NATO to End Oil Purchases

Latest Developments

Fire at Major Russian Refinery: Ukrainian military officials claimed that their drones successfully targeted the Kirishi oil refinery on September 14, one of Russia’s largest oil refineries. Ukraine’s General Staff reported explosions and a fire at the oil refinery, which contributes 6.4 percent of Russia’s crude output. Local authorities said that a small fire was caused by falling debris from the interception of three drones, which was quickly extinguished without causing any injuries.
Ukraine Increases Strikes on Russian Oil Industry: While Russia continues its daily drone and missile barrages of Ukraine, targeting civilian infrastructure, residences, and killing Ukrainian civilians, Ukraine has responded by escalating drone strikes on Russian energy export facilities, which fund and supply Russia’s military operations. Reuters estimated that Ukrainian strikes have shut down at least 17 percent of Russia’s oil processing capacity, reducing production by 1.1 million barrels per day. On September 12, Ukrainian drones struck the Primorsk oil port, Russia’s largest oil terminal on the Baltic Sea, and a crucial hub for its maritime oil exports.
Trump Sets Conditions For U.S. Sanctions on Russia: President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that he had sent a letter to NATO member states, saying that the United States is ready to place “major sanctions on Russia” but only “when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA.” Trump added, “NATO’S commitment to WIN has been far less than 100%, and the purchase of Russian Oil, by some, has been shocking! It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia.” While most NATO members have reduced their purchases of Russian oil since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Hungary, Slovakia, and Turkey remain customers, with Turkey being the third largest purchaser of Russian crude after China and India. Many European countries also continue to import Russian fossil fuels, including natural gas, which European Union states recently agreed to phase out by 2028.

FDD Expert Response

“The Ukrainians are conducting a well-planned air campaign to impose cost on Russian President Vladimir Putin in the most effective way possible — damaging Russian fossil fuel export capabilities. These are legitimate targets and were the obvious next step for Ukraine to take in the absence of comprehensive U.S. sanctions on Russian shadow fleet oil purchasers, especially China and Turkey.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology

“While President Trump is right to push European countries to end their remaining imports of Russian energy, his conditions essentially outsource U.S. sanctions policy to the likes of Hungary. Instead, Trump, in coordination with the European Union and the United Kingdom, should immediately impose secondary sanctions targeting Russian oil revenue. The longer Trump allows Russia to flout his warnings, the more people will die.” — John Hardie, Russia Program Deputy Director

“Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries demonstrate that oil and gas are the lifeblood of Russia’s war machine. Trump understands that Ukraine is right to target this source of Russia’s war economy. He is warning Europe to stop buying Russian blood oil and funding Putin’s war.” — Peter Doran, Adjunct Senior Fellow

“Rather than being ‘Zelenskyy’s war,’ Putin launched this aggression to accomplish his ultimate goal of subjugating Ukraine. Unfortunately, NATO member states are still supporting Russia’s war efforts by relying on Russia’s economy and, therefore, fueling the Russian war machine. If NATO is serious about ending this war, it should send frozen Russian assets to Ukraine and stop buying Russian gas and oil.” — Ivana Stradner, Research Fellow