Ukraine wreaks havoc on Russia’s weak point after ‘secret training’ | World | News
It is alleged that Ukraine, thanks to secret training from America’s CIA, is carrying out a destructive campaign that has been called the Achilles heel of Russia’s oil refineries. US intelligence reportedly helped Ukraine develop a more targeted approach after previous drone attacks on infrastructure had little impact.
Ukrainian forces regularly hit Russia’s oil refineries throughout 2025, with attacks increasing in the second half of the year. This increase led to fuel shortages in some regions of Russia and caused prices to rise due to production problems, which also reduced exports. According to a US intelligence estimate, the daily cost of the strikes to the Russian economy was up to £55 million.
A more intense campaign is said to have been planned following a meeting between US officers and their CIA counterparts in June.
Accordingly New York TimesStating that he met with more than 300 officials, civil servants and diplomats as part of his report, it was decided that Ukraine should focus only on oil refineries and target a coupler device identified as a weak point by a CIA expert.
The report stated that wiping out this equipment would leave the refinery closed for weeks because the equipment was so difficult to replace or repair.
The United States reduced its support to Ukraine during the Trump administration.
It is alleged that after Donald Trump ordered the freezing of military aid and intelligence in March, the US President allowed the CIA to continue sharing information with Kiev.
CIA director John Ratcliffe reportedly told Mr. Trump about the danger CIA operatives faced in Ukraine.
Mr Trump is said to support the US’ covert role in disrupting Russia’s oil network.
The New York Times, citing officials, reported that Mr. Trump said that because talks on ending the war were making slow or no progress, it gave him deniability and leverage over Vladimir Putin.
The CIA was also allegedly given permission to advise on Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s so-called stay-behind fleet in the Black Sea and Mediterranean.
The remarks came just days after Mr. Trump said agreement on a peace deal for Ukraine was “closer than ever” following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida on Sunday.
Moscow said negotiations were in the “final stage”.
