Drone strikes on Russia's oil infrastructure are damaging its reputation, says Budanov
Drone strikes on Russia’s oil infrastructure not only have economic consequences but also deal a serious blow to the country’s reputation as a reliable supplier of raw materials.
This was stated by the Head of the Office of the President, Kirill Budanov, during the 18th Kyiv Security Forum.
Responding to a question about the assessment of damages from drone attacks, Budanov emphasized that the key factor is not a decline in production or financial losses, but rather unfulfilled contracts.
“Everyone has heard the official figures from the president; I confirm them. But unfulfilled contracts are much more interesting,” he said.
According to the head of the Presidential Office, the main consequence is the undermining of trust in Russia as a stable supplier of energy resources.
“Russia is taking a hit to its image. That’s the most important thing. Oil prices are still somehow holding steady; once the war ends, they’ll stabilize anyway. But the damage to its image will linger for a very long time,” Budanov explained.
The disruption of contracts could have serious consequences for Russia, including a loss of trust from buyer countries, reputational damage that will not disappear even after the war ends, and an incentive for Russia’s partners to seek alternative energy suppliers.
Thus, strikes on oil infrastructure affect not only the economy but also Russia’s strategic position in the global energy market.
The day before, five oil storage tanks were hit in a single attack. On the night of April 21, drones from the SBU’s “Alpha” Special Operations Center struck the “Samara” line-production-dispatch station in Russia, after which a massive fire broke out there.
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