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Ukrainian strike hits Russian oil terminal hours after Trump-Putin diesel deal

Ukrainian strike hits Russian oil terminal hours after Trump-Putin diesel deal

Ukraine struck the Yug Rusi oil terminal in Rostov-on-Don hours after the Trump-Putin deal to expand Russian diesel supply.

Ukraine struck the Yug Rusi oil terminal in Rostov-on-Don overnight, hours after the presidents of the United States and Russia announced a deal to expand Russian diesel supply to American and world markets. The attack, attributed to Kyiv, set the facility ablaze; the terminal stores and pumps fuel from the Neftezhájinsk refinery. --- The context --- It was not a new target: the terminal had already been hit by Ukrainian drones on July 9. The offensive is part of Kyiv's sustained campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, linked to the fuel deficit Russia has endured for months, with long lines at service stations. The pact was announced after a call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. According to the American president, Moscow committed to expanding its fuel supplies to help bring down international diesel prices. --- The facts --- A Russian Telegram channel reported the fire during the overnight offensive. Regional authorities said air defenses downed more than 100 drones. The governor of Rostov, Yuri Slusar, reported that a railway bridge was damaged and train traffic was halted in both directions while officials verified whether there were victims. Slusar later said six people were wounded and several buildings and private homes were damaged. A fire was also reported in a building under construction in Bataisk. Separately, two vessels were attacked in the Sea of Azov, with no victims reported. --- The positions --- Trump announced on his social network that Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to American and world markets, 500,000 tons in November and 1,000,000 tons immediately after. He added that, depending on the state of its refineries, Moscow will later deliver 3,000,000 tons within a short period. The announcement comes as the White House and the Republican Party worry about polls ahead of the November 3 midterm elections: cited surveys give Democrats about a seven-point lead, amid discontent over gasoline prices and the cost of living. Trump had asked Volodymyr Zelensky to unilaterally halt strikes on Russian oil facilities because of their effect on diesel prices. Zelensky criticized the understanding as unfair and unworthy of an ally, arguing it lets Russia export fuel instead of facing tougher sanctions. --- What remains unknown --- The exact extent of the damage to the terminal and its effect on fuel flows remain unknown. There is also no independent verification of the drones' origin, nor details on how the agreed shipment schedule will be carried out. --- Unanswered questions --- Will the fire affect Moscow's promised diesel shipments? What verification backs the figures of 300,000, 500,000, 1,000,000 and 3,000,000 tons? Will Washington keep asking Kyiv to stop the strikes if the energy offensive continues? How will the international diesel market react? --- EPM analysis --- The episode captures the paradox of the energy war: Washington negotiates cheap diesel from Moscow for its consumers while Kyiv strikes the very infrastructure that produces it. The White House is playing on two boards, domestic prices and pressure on Ukraine, and each overnight attack narrows its room for maneuver. 📌 EPM Take: In EPM's view, the strike on Yug Rusi tests the Trump-Putin deal before it is even implemented: if the infrastructure meant to move the promised diesel remains under fire, the announced figures may end up as a declaration of intent. Electoral pressure explains Washington's urgency to lower fuel costs, but it also limits its ability to demand that Kyiv halt a campaign it deems strategic. The outcome will be measurable in weeks: either the diesel flows, or the pact collapses.
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