Russia Has Lost Its Image As An "energy Superpower"

• 21.05.2026, 11:24

The expert revealed the impact of the latest strikes of the AFU.

The AFU attacks on Russian refineries and ports have not only a military effect - they demonstrate to the world that Russia is no longer a reliable energy supplier and any business or state risks being left without resources at a critical moment.

In an interview with "Glavred" told Maxim Gardus, a specialist in communication, partnership and EU integration at Razom We Stand.

According to him, Ukraine has been actively conducting a diplomatic campaign since the first years of the war, emphasizing that buying Russian hydrocarbons actually means financing aggression against Ukraine. However, not all countries listened to these arguments, so Kiev was forced to resort to more decisive steps to reduce the Kremlin's revenues.

"One aspect of these strikes is not only the physical destruction of facilities, but also a signal that Russia is an unreliable counterparty. It can unilaterally renegotiate its relations with anyone," Gardus explained.

He recalled that Moscow has already used oil as a weapon against Germany, although Berlin did not carry out any attacks or even provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles. "We show: as long as you buy Russian energy resources, the Russian Federation can start blackmailing you with them at any moment," the expert said.

Gardus emphasized that strikes on infrastructure destroy Russia's image as an "energy superpower" that supposedly always fulfills its obligations. Business now faces a risk: an ordered tanker may simply not reach the port due to the destruction of the facility. This creates a threat of production stoppage and forces companies to urgently look for alternative sources of supply.

"Therefore, the Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and ports pursue many different complex goals, which together add up to one simple message: do not buy oil from Russia," he summarized.