UKRAINE has opened a new front in the war – setting off a “chain of infernos” to wipe out Putin’s $100billion “weak point” in a calculated campaign.
In the latest episode of Battle Plans Exposed, military intel expert Philip Ingram exposes the chink in Russia‘s armour – analysing how Ukrainian ingenuity is striking the heart of Putin’s economy.
Ukraine continue to launch devastating assaults on Russian oil refineries
The attacks seek to cripple the heart of Russia’s war economy
Philip Ingram details the asymmetric warfare in the latest episodes of Battle Plans Exposed
EPAUkraine can cause billions of dollars of devastation with singular drones[/caption]
The newest edition of the weekly series explains how Russia’s oil and gas monopoly – which has been propping up Putin’s war for years – is being attacked by Ukrainian forces.
The precise assaults aim to destabilise and ultimately decapitate Putin’s war engine, Ingram says.
Watch the latest episode on The Sun’s YouTube channel here…
The expert explains: “Long range drones flying 1000km or more are turning Russia’s sprawling oil and gas empire into a chain of infernos.”
Although the plan is an “audacious gamble”, Ingram says, it is a genius move which seeks to “bring the reality of conflict home to ordinary Russians”.
But its consequences aren’t limited to inconveniencing Russian daily life.
Ingram says the war on Russian oil threatens to spark severe fuel shortages – which put “immense pressure” on Moscow‘s ability to carry on fighting.
“This is the oil war,” Ingram says.
The former Nato planner explains how Russian energy exports made up 40 per cent of the Putin’s budget before his bloodthirsty invasion.
But even under Western sanctions, oil and gas still account for 30 per cent of Russia’s income – making it an extremely vital target to exploit.
With Russian oil in its crosshairs, Ukraine is carrying out “a direct attack on the logistical lifeblood of the invasion force”, Ingram reveals.
The analyst says of the campaign: “An aim is to cut the funding for the war… hitting the refineries is a direct attack on the Kremlin‘s revenue.”
Emphasising the consequences of zeroing in on this “river of oil money”, Ingram highlights the damaging effects the strikes are having on Russian society.
He says: “For two years, the war was something most Russians saw on state television – it didn’t affect their day to day lives.
“Now, with drones striking deep inside their country and reports of fuel prices rising at the pump, the conflict is becoming a tangible reality for ordinary citizens.”
The expert says the brutal attacks are sending a “direct message” to ordinary Russians – telling them: “This war has a cost for you too.”
Ingram also says the scale – and success – of the campaign has been “breathtaking”.
“These aren’t lucky hits,” he says.
“Ukrainian intelligence, likely aided by Western partners and insiders in the ground, has identified the most critical and the most vulnerable parts of each facility.”
EPAUkrainian drone attacks can seriously damage Russian oil refineries[/caption]
Smoke billowing over Russia after a strike on an oil refinery
To understand how the attacks unleash maximum devastation for Russia, Ingram explains the anatomy of each oil refinery and highlights the “knockout blow” for every complex.
He says Russia’s “billion dollar weak point” lies in its oil processing units.
Ingram explains: “It’s a common misconception to think that hitting a huge storage tank is the main goal.
“That helps – the less you can store, the less you can refine, the less you can pump out of the ground.”
He adds: “While it creates a spectacular fire, it’s not the knockout blow. The real targets are the complex and expensive and almost irreplaceable processing units – this is the heart of the refinery.”
These units, which are extremely difficult and expensive to build, require specialised Western technology.
They also need components that Russia cannot easily obtain due to Western sanctions.
“Repairing one of these units isn’t a matter of weeks,” Ingram says.
“It’s a matter of months, if not years.”
The attacks on each unit have severe consequences for Russia’s economy
Ukraine strikes oil-producing Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat plantEast2West
He says even one attack from a single, cheap Ukrainian drone can inflict “billions of dollars of damage and paralyse a facility that contributes massively to the Russian war effort”.
Ingram describes it as the “very definition of asymmetric warfare”.
With distribution facilities hit, Russia’s oil process is “severely interrupted”.
Each drone strike also leaves the Kremlin “in a panic” and unable to respond effectively, Ingram says.
Describing the economic consequences of each drone barrage as “undeniable”, the intelligence officer suggests how Russians could “rise up” as a result of the destabilisation.
He says: “Putin’s greatest fear is the Russian people rising up.
“The message from Ukraine is clear and is being heard in Moscow: ‘We can touch you, this war will have a cost for your economy and your people.’”
The Kremlin was forced to take a six month ban on fuel exports at one point when the situation became extremely dire.
It showed how Moscow was desperately trying to stabilise markets and prevent widespread chaos.
“The psychological impact of queues at fuel stations impacting people’s daily lives cannot be overstated,” Ingram says.
“Ukraine’s drone campaign against Russia’s oil infrastructure is a bold, high stakes gamble.”
Trump’s Ukraine U-Turn: Comment
by Jerome Starkey
DONALD Trump doesn’t do U-Turns. He does rollercoaster loop-the-loops.
So with all his dizzying corkscrew turns and sudden policy swerves there is every risk he ends up back where he began – sucking up to tyrant Vladimir Putin and scorning President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Before Ukraine shows any relief at Trump’s sudden, full-throated support they will want to see concrete action.
That means weapons without restrictions for Kyiv and penalties for Moscow. Sanctions must hurt the Kremlin and threaten Putin’s rule.
Otherwise it’s just hot air.
It wasn’t so long ago Trump hailed Putin a “genius”. He rolled out the red carpet in Alaska last month.
He said Zelensky had “no cards”.
Now he claims Russia is on the brink of collapse, Putin’s army is a “paper tiger” and he is backing a Ukraine win – to retake all its territory and, in his words, “maybe even go further”.
That would mean conquering parts of Russia – something Ukraine has never sought.
What is behind this change of heart? A state visit to Britain, perhaps.
In between the pomp and parades Trump will have heard the MI6 view that “Putin is stringing us along”.
He describes the fight as an “operational level battle for the very lifeblood of Putin’s war machine”.
While unveiling the deep vulnerabilities of Russia, Ingram says the attacks are critical for Ukraine’s survival.
“The White House may worry about global oil prices, but for Ukraine, these are existential strikes,” Ingram adds.
“It is a legitimate military strategy to degrade Russia’s ability to wage a war of annihilation against them.”
Identifying crucial weak points and targeting them with “unrelenting precision” is vital on the battlefield.
On Wednesday night, footage showed Ukraine striking one of Putin’s key fuel sites with a naval drone as the fuel crisis continues to pound Russia.
The Salavat factory was hit for the second time in less than a week amid Volodymyr Zelensky‘s stunning campaign against Russian oil.
The Salavat refinery, considered a linchpin in Russia’s oil industry, was last hit on September 18 – causing a “massive explosion”, according to local media.
It’s just one of a number of facilities Ukraine has targeted in recent weeks as it steps up its campaign on Russian energy infrastructure.
GettyUkrainian soldiers launch a drone towards Russia[/caption]