Ukraine attacked 2 Russian oil refineries and many other important oil targets in the early morning of April 18, just hours after the US continued to grant exemptions allowing Russia to sell oil.
Commander of Kiev's drone force Robert "Madyar" Brovdi informed on Telegram that Ukraine has attacked the Novokuybyshevsk and Syzran refineries in Russia's Samara region, the Tikhoretsk oil depot in Krasnodar region, the Vysotsk port in the Baltic Sea, as well as an oil depot in Sevastopol, in the Crimean peninsula.
The Russian Ministry of Defense did not confirm these attacks, only saying that the country's air defense system intercepted 258 Ukrainian drones overnight.
However, regional authorities in Russia have recorded the attacks or their consequences. Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev announced that "attacks have been recorded" targeting industrial facilities, and emergency forces were present at the scene.
The Krasnodar regional emergency response command said that a fire had occurred at the oil depot in Tikhoretsk, with "224 personnel and 56 equipment" mobilized to control the fire.
Governor of the Leningrad region Aleksandr Drozdenko - where Vysotsk port is located - announced on April 18 that a drone attack caused a fire at the port, but the fire was later controlled.
Commander of Kiev's drone force Robert "Madyar" Brovdi noted that these attacks are Ukraine's response to the US decision to extend immunity, allowing the transportation and sale of Russian crude oil by sea until May 16.
On April 17, the US Treasury Department announced a decision to exempt Russia's oil in the context of President Donald Trump's administration's efforts to reduce pressure on global oil prices caused by the US-Israel and Iran conflicts.
While negotiations are being accelerated, the Treasury Department wants to ensure that oil supplies are still available for those in need," a US Treasury Department spokesman said.
This is the second time the US administration has made a decision to allow Russia to sell crude oil and its oil products that are stuck at sea. The previous exemption expired on April 11.
Western countries and allies have imposed sanctions on Russia's energy exports due to the important role of this source of revenue in financing Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy - Mr. Kirill Dmitriev - said that the extension of immunity will affect 100 million barrels of Russian oil, in addition to the 100 million barrels already in the previous license.
Fluctuating world oil prices and these exemptions bring significant benefits to Russia's budget. This week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said that Russia's energy revenue in March almost doubled, reaching 19 billion USD, compared to 9.75 billion USD in February.
