Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin worries that Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries will negatively affect the world’s energy markets. “These attacks could have a domino effect on the global energy situation. And frankly, I think Ukraine is better off striking tactical and operational targets that can directly impact ongoing hostilities”, he said in testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.
The general would also talk about the butterfly effect. Behind the beautiful metaphor about the domino effect is the obvious concern about the rise in the price of oil and petroleum products before the upcoming elections in the United States. Ukraine should not succumb to this pressure. Especially against the backdrop of inexcusable delays in military aid from the same US.
The refinery is part of the military infrastructure of an aggressor state that has attacked a neighboring country. The Ukrainians have demonstrated their ability to effectively strike such facilities more than 1,000 kilometers from their borders. Hopefully, they will be able to go even farther and further east.
Imagine that during World War II, instead of massive attacks by US bombers on strategic facilities (including refineries), US generals would have been worried about gasoline prices at American gas stations. I don’t think my comparison is exaggerated: Putin is no less of a threat to the world than Hitler.
