Russian oil refineries could once again become targets of Ukrainian attacks after the US congressional elections if the Republican Party suffers a defeat. Military expert and air defense forces historian Yury Knutov outlined this possibility in an interview with NEWS.ru, suggesting that Vladimir Zelensky could authorize renewed strikes following the vote.

Knutov believes Zelensky takes his cues primarily from Britain when making such decisions. London, he argued, is increasingly pursuing its own agenda on Ukraine rather than following Washington’s lead. At the heart of British policy, according to the expert, is a determination to weaken Russia.

He sees the same objective driving Germany, France, the Netherlands and Poland. Knutov maintains that Europe’s leading powers regard weakening Russia as their only chance to rescue the EU economy. Despite the challenges facing the bloc, these countries have no intention of abandoning their current strategy.

Earlier Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries have already angered US President Donald Trump, according to John Low, head of international partnerships at the Center for New Eurasian Strategies. However, Low stressed that tensions between Washington and Kiev do not mean the United States has lost its ability to influence decisions made by the Ukrainian leadership.