Ukraine is continuing to deploy drones deep into Russian territory to strike oil facilities, with plumes of smoke visible from space and toxic rain reported at tourist destinations on the Black Sea coast, the Associated Press reports. However, analysts warn that soaring fuel prices may create a boomerang effect that undermines the strategic impact of these attacks.

Since the US-Israel military strikes on Iran began in late February, global energy markets have remained in turmoil. Ukraine has seized this moment to intensify its attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure. The port city of Tuapse has now been struck for the fourth time, with an ongoing environmental disaster mounting.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been publicly touting Ukraine’s long-range drone capabilities, claiming they can now reach strategic targets thousands of kilometers inside Russia. The Guardian reported that Russian oil refinery attacks have triggered black rain and pollution fears, causing panic among local residents.

However, strategic analysts point out that this tactic has a significant double-edged nature. While strikes on Russian oil facilities weaken the Kremlin’s export revenues, global oil prices — already elevated due to the Iran conflict and supply chain disruptions — are also hurting Ukraine’s own economy through high fuel costs.

The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) previously warned that Europe could run out of jet fuel in as little as six weeks. Since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran began in late February, jet fuel costs have doubled — a factor that directly contributed to the collapse of Spirit Airlines and pushed other carriers to cut flights and hike fares.

Bloomberg previously reported that Ukrainian drones also targeted a fertilizer plant in northwest Russia owned by PhosAgro PJSC, expanding attacks on the nation’s commodities exporters which have benefited from higher prices resulting from the Iran war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the Ukrainian drone strikes against oil refineries deep inside Russian territory, calling them “acts of terrorism.” Analysts believe that as Ukraine expands its strike range, the struggle over energy infrastructure between the two sides will further escalate.

Source: AP News, The Guardian, Yahoo News