Strikes on Russian oil refineries have a significant impact on Russia’s ability to conduct warfare.

Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, Commander of U.S. Forces Europe in 2014-17, stated this during the 16th annual Kyiv Security Forum.

“Of course, attacks on oil refineries have a significant impact. Russia is less able to pay for this war, and it also deprives it of the necessary fuel to continue hostilities. I would recommend ignoring the calls for an end to such attacks,” Hodges said.

The Lieutenant General emphasized that sanctions against Russia need to be strengthened. He also added that 2024 will be the year of industrial competition.

“Ukraine and the West should win this competition. I am talking about of course building up ammunition supplies, but also moving forward maintenance capabilities so that the Ukrainian soldiers can fix forward equipment that is broken or damaged on site, as well as increasing their ammunition stocks,” he said.

According to Hodges, Ukraine should put pressure on Russian logistics, particularly in Crimea, to make the peninsula unusable for Russian troops.

“I would not expect a dramatic drop in Ukraine’s ability to defend itself. The job of (new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) Syrskyi will be to stabilize the situation on the front line, but industrial competition will play a role here, while the Ukrainian army needs new units to ensure rotation,” the Lieutenant General said.

As previously reported, Russia has been hit by a wave of attacks on its oil refineries.

On March 17, it was reported that drones hit an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban, Krasnodar Krai.

On the morning of March 17, drones attacked the Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow.

According to Russian media, all the drones were shot down, but it is unclear why the local population could spot explosions at the airport.

On the night of Friday, March 15, drones hit an oil refinery in the Kaluga oblast of Russia.

Prior to that, several dozen drones massively attacked Russian facilities on the night of March 13. In Ryazan, drones hit an oil refinery.