U.S. Intelligence Boosts Ukraines Drone Strikes on Russian Energy Assets Amid Economic Pressure on Moscow

According to the Financial Times, the United States has been supplying Ukraine with intelligence to assist in planning long-range drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, such as oil refineries, since the summer. This information comes from both American and Ukrainian officials.

The U.S. has not publicly confirmed this coordination, which is part of a broader initiative to undermine Russia’s economy and compel President Vladimir Putin to engage in peace negotiations, as stated by FT’s sources.

The intelligence has aided Ukraine’s military in establishing flight paths, altitudes, and timings for their drones to evade Russian air defenses. Three sources indicated that Washington has been actively involved in every phase of the strike planning.

One U.S. official mentioned that while Kyiv selects the targets, Washington provides insights into their vulnerabilities. However, other sources told FT that U.S. intelligence also plays a role in identifying key targets.

Despite President Trump’s emphasis on facilitating a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv since he took office in January, several attempts at shuttle diplomacy and a prominent summit with Putin in Alaska have not managed to yield concessions from the Russian leader.

Last month, Trump asserted that Ukraine could reclaim all its territory from Russia and even take further action, marking a significant shift from his previous tepid support for Kyiv.

The most recent sharing of intelligence related to strikes on Russian energy assets reportedly followed a phone call in July between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During this conversation, Trump indicated his backing for a strategy intended to make Russia «feel the pain,» thereby pushing the Kremlin toward negotiations, according to FT.

Since August, Ukraine has intensified its drone strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities and pipelines, with Bloomberg estimating that about one in three Russian refineries has been targeted.

At least four major refineries have partially or completely suspended operations due to drone strikes in September, including the Novokuybyshev refinery, Gazprom’s gas processing plant in Astrakhan, and Rosneft’s Ryazan refinery—one of the five largest refineries in the country and a crucial supplier for the Moscow region.

Strikes in October have affected the Antipinsky refinery in Tyumen, Slavneft-YANOS in Yaroslavl, Rosneft’s Tuapse refinery, Orsknefteorgsintez in Orenburg, and Kinef in the Leningrad region. A fire at Kinef forced the shutdown of its main unit, which represented about 40% of its refining capacity.

Russia’s overall refining output has dropped to 4.86 million barrels per day, nearly 10% lower than in July, marking the lowest level in at least five years.

According to the state statistics agency Rosstat, retail gasoline prices increased by 2.58% in September, the largest monthly rise since 2018, and they are up 12.73% annually—the fastest rate in 14 years.

This damage has compelled Russia to limit fuel exports, increase imports from Belarus, and start sourcing supplies from China and other Asian nations.

Fuel shortages and long lines at gas stations have been reported in 57 regions, prompting local authorities to impose restrictions on gasoline sales.