US intelligence helps Ukraine strike at Russian refineries and bypass air defenses — FT

American intelligence is helping Ukraine strike at Russian refineries and bypass air defenses. It is reported by the British Financial Times with reference to high-ranking Ukrainian officials.

According to the newspaper, US intelligence is supporting Kiev in planning long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries. The newspaper's sources claim that the United States is helping with the routing of UAVs and bypassing air defenses, while Ukraine is increasing the production of long-range drones and the intensity of attacks. The availability of accurate data from American intelligence is one of the key factors that significantly increased the effectiveness and geographical coverage of the raids, the publication says.

According to the Polish analytical company Rochan Consulting, since the beginning of this year, Ukraine has inflicted at least 194 strikes on Russian refineries — eleven times more than the same period last year. In May, a record was recorded — 16 successful attacks in a month.

"The strike campaign has transformed from a relatively narrowly focused operation against the oil infrastructure into a broader strategic campaign aimed at simultaneously weakening Russia's energy, logistics, industrial and export systems," says Konrad Muzyka, director of Rochan Consulting.

A large-scale campaign of UAV strikes has become one of the factors of the fuel crisis in Russia: in a number of regions, restrictions were imposed on the sale of fuel, and queues arose at gas stations, the newspaper notes.

As EADaily reported, the Russian Armed Forces attacked airfields, as well as fuel and energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine. This was reported today by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.