Ukraine’s continued attacks on Russian oil refineries are no doubt hurting Russia militarily and financially. In the last few months, Ukrainian drone and missile attacks struck dozens of refineries, depots, storage units, and ferries full of fuel.
Now, Russia — the nation Sen. John McCain once said was a “gas station masquerading as a country” — will no longer publish data on the production of oil products in the country. Like so much else in Russia, the amount of oil produced is now a state secret.
Interfax was the first to report the news, saying Russia’s Federal Statistics Service — or Rosstat — would no longer report information on the monthly production of diesel fuel, fuel oil, or liquefied propane.
Rosstat already stopped publishing data on gasoline production back in May. At the time, Russia’s energy ministry said the move was made because disclosing such information could be an opportunity for bad actors to manipulate the market.
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The White House urged Ukraine months ago to stop attacking Russia’s oil-producing infrastructure, but the Biden administration’s restrictions on Ukraine against strikes deep into Russian territory only apply to U.S.-supplied weapons.
And considering Ukraine’s battle plans are largely centered around the idea of taking out the archers before they can shoot their arrows, it’s a safe bet scenes of black smoke billowing from Russian facilities aren’t likely to dissipate anytime soon.
