NewsX World: Drone Attacks Hit Russian Refineries

In this news bulletin, I come on at minute 15.20

I am very pleased that I was permitted to respond fully to the opening request for comment on Zelensky’s claims that Ukrainian counterattacks have successfully captured large swathes of Russian occupied territory. As I say, all of the countries in a state of war are now applying strict censorship with respect to damage and reversals they may be experiencing. This applies to Russia, to Ukraine, to Iran and…to Israel. I mentioned the latter because if you listen to the interviewee who preceded me based in Israel you will hear the typical propaganda coming from Mainstream castigating Iran for closing down its internet for 36 days, insisting that the regime wants to keep the news of the destruction it is experiencing at Israeli and US hands from its people because it wants to maintain its stranglehold on power for the purpose of oppressing the Iranians who yearn for freedom. As I say, there is no country with censorship at tight as that of Israel today.

But to return to the main point: yes, the Ukrainian drone attack on the Norsi oil refinery, Russia’s 4^th largest, located near the Central Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod was a serious blow to Russian energy infrastructure for which Ukrainian was not singly responsible. It was made possible by satellite intelligence provided by the USA. Thus, under Trump, the United States is de facto a co-belligerent with Ukraine even if Moscow, for various reasons, is not calling this out and is not doing what its nuclear doctrine requires in retribution. The question is how long will this go on before the Russians respond appropriately and end the war with knock-out blows against Kiev and Lvov.

©Gilbert Doctorow, 2026