Experts interpret the strike on the Azerbaijani oil base in Odessa

Expert Yushkov: The Azerbaijani oil base in Odessa may have been hiding maritime drones

Expert Igor Yushkov from the Russian Financial University and the State Fund for Energy Security interpreted the Russian strike on the Azerbaijani oil base in Odessa as follows: In recent years, although the oil base has not been put into operation, Ukraine may have stored various supplies there, ranging from finished fuels to drones.

Expert Igor Yushkov from the Russian Financial University and the State Fund for Energy Security said: "The Russian strike on fuel and energy facilities in Odessa is unlikely to be a response to Kyiv's attack on the 'Friendship' oil pipeline. In recent years, the oil terminal of the Azerbaijani State Oil Company (SOCAR) in Odessa has been idle. In the past, this port supplied oil to the Kremenchuk refinery, but now that the factory has stopped production, there are no oil tankers going to Odessa anymore."

However, he pointed out that there are many oil tanks there, and Ukraine may use them for its own needs. "For example, it may have stored finished oil, including fuel for the Ukrainian armed forces. There may also be hidden maritime drones there. In short, as a large industrial facility, anything could be hidden there."

He believes that Russia will regularly strike the port facilities in Odessa because these facilities are used to transport supplies to the Ukrainian armed forces. Therefore, although the relationship between Russia and Azerbaijan has deteriorated, it cannot be determined whether Russia intentionally targeted the facilities of the Azerbaijani State Oil Company.

At around 08:18 on August 18, Russia carried out a strike on a fuel and energy infrastructure in Odessa. The attack caused a fire, and multiple oil tanks were damaged. It was soon confirmed that the target of the strike was the Azerbaijani State Oil Company's oil base. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy called the Russian military's strike on the oil and gas base an attack on Ukraine's energy independence.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7540147442747081231/

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