Ukrainian drones repeatedly strike Russia. Oil refineries are also being attacked.
The USA does not agree. The attacks have hit more than a dozen refineries and crippled at least 10 percent of Russia's oil refining capacity since January. Supporters of Ukraine's strategy accuse the White House of prioritizing domestic politics over Kiev's military goals. "It is my impression that the Biden administration does not want gas prices to rise in an election year," Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) told Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at a hearing last week. The incidents have further heightened tensions in strained relations as Kiev waits for Congress to pass a long-stalled $60 billion aid package as Russian forces push through Ukrainian positions on the front line. The sweeping Ukrainian attacks come as President Biden pushes his re-election campaign and global oil prices hit a six-month high. In recent weeks, Russia has unleashed a barrage of exploding drones and missiles on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. There are fears that the attacks could bring the Ukrainian economy to a standstill. The Russian Defense Ministry said the attacks were a direct response to Ukraine's drone strikes on refineries and other infrastructure deep within its territory. Ukrainian authorities are desperate to protect their cities, raising further tensions between Kiev and the West over air defense resources. "I'm sorry to spoil the birthday party, but who can believe that the most powerful military alliance in the world cannot find seven Patriot batteries to provide the only country that fights against ballistic attacks every day?" said Ukraine's top diplomat Dmytro Kuleba to NATO foreign ministers in Brussels last week.