Ukraine has outlined the conditions under which it would consider striking oil refineries in Belarus, marking a potential escalation in its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.
A Ukrainian expert cited by media reports identified the primary threshold for such operations, suggesting Kyiv is preparing to broaden its target set beyond Russian territory if specific military or political criteria are met.
The development follows a series of intensified cross-border strikes by Ukraine on Moscow and Crimea, as well as recent attacks on Russian refineries supplying the capital.
These operations have already begun to impact global energy markets, with Brent crude futures climbing in early European trading as investors priced in the risk of further supply disruptions.
The prospect of targeting Belarusian facilities, which play a key role in processing and exporting Russian crude, could amplify these pressures.
Belarus hosts several major oil refineries that process significant volumes of Russian crude, serving as a critical export hub for Moscow’s energy sector.