Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy greets US Senator Lindsey Graham in Kyiv, March 18, 2024
UPDATE 0636 GMT:
Ukrainian drones have damaged one of Russia’s largest oil refineries, in the Yaroslavl region.
Governor Mikhail Evrayev acknowledged the damage while saying there were no casualties.
The Slavneft-YANOS refinery can process up to 15 million tons per year. It has been struck at least eight times this year, the last time on August 28.
Power was cut in four districts of Rostov-on-Don in western Russia because of damage to a transformer substation. The monitor Astra said the fire originated on the Rostov-on-Don Central military airfield.
UPDATE 0601 GMT:
Ukraine’s air defenses downed 124 of 157 drones and seven Banderol missiles fired by Russia overnight.
The Russians also launched Oniks anti-ship missiles, Iskander-M/S-400/KN-23 ballistic missiles, and four sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles.
Strikes were recorded at 36 locations.
The main targets of the attack are the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa regions.
UPDATE 0546 GMT:
The Kremlin has extended a ban on diesel exports until the end of October.
Russia imposed the ban this summer amid Ukraine’s strikes on oil refineries. It was due to end this month.
One of Russia’s largest six diesel refineries has been shut down this month, and two others are operating at 1/4 capacity.
Three industry sources said the Rosneft-owned oil refineries in the Volga river cities of Syzran and Saratov have also stopped processing after attacks this month.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: The US House of Representatives has approved tariffs of up to 100% on the top five countries buying Russian oil and gas or helping Moscow evade international sanctions.
Championed by the late Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, the bill passed 262-159. It was adopted with overwhelming support in the Senate in early August, less than a month after Graham suddenly died following a trip to Ukraine.
Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who co-authored the legislation said, “Today is a historic triumph for democracy — ours and Ukraine’s — showing that America can still muster bipartisan unity in the fight for freedom.”
The bill was tabled last year, but it languished as the White House raised objections amid its contacts with the Kremlin. Graham’s death, as well as the lack of progress towards an end of the Russian invasion, gave an impetus to the legislation this summer.
Republican Rep. Michael McCaul said the measures can “bleed the [Russian] regime so we can finally get them to the negotiating table to get to a peaceful settlement”.
We owe it to the principles we stand for. We owe it to Ukraine; we have to stand up against our adversaries, and we also have to honor the legacy of Lindsey Graham, who had the brilliance in legislating to accomplish this.
China, India, and Turkey are among the largest buyers of Russian oil. China and Turkey are major importers of Russian natural gas. The EU has been as well, although it is scheduled to cut off imports in January.
The list of targeted countries will be reviewed every 180 days. Countries importing less than 15% of Russia’s total natural gas exports and reducing the supply will be exempt.
