Ukraine drone strikes cripple 40pc of Russian oil exports as global prices soar

WEB DESK: Russia’s energy sector has been plunged into an unprecedented crisis as a wave of Ukrainian drone strikes, coupled with mysterious pipeline disruptions and the seizure of tankers, has knocked out an estimated 40pc of the nation’s oil export capacity.

According to Reuters, this represents the most significant blow to Moscow’s fossil fuel infrastructure in its modern history.

The timing is particularly bruising for the Kremlin; with the ongoing conflict in Iran pushing global crude prices beyond the $100-a-barrel mark, Russia finds itself unable to fully capitalise on the surge, losing billions in potential revenue as its primary economic engine stalls.

A systemic collapse amid rising tensions

The scale of the paralysis has sent shockwaves through international markets, as the world’s second-largest oil exporter struggles to maintain its supply chains under the relentless pressure of aerial bombardment.

While Moscow remains tight-lipped regarding the specifics of the damage, the disruption to major transit hubs and a disputed strike on a critical pipeline have effectively bottlenecked the flow of Urals crude.

This domestic infrastructure failure coincides with a tightening of the maritime noose, as the seizure of several tankers further complicates the logistics of bypassing Western sanctions.

With global supply already precarious due to the escalating war in the Middle East, the sudden disappearance of Russian volume threatens to keep energy costs at record highs for the foreseeable future.