With the Druzhba pipeline been constantly under attack and practically dead in the water, let us look over to the other big pipelines: Northern Lights / Yamal-Europe, as well its connected side links such the one leading to Vyborg and Ust-Luga.
Those pipelines a natural gas pipeline. They start at the Yamal peninsula respectively the Urengoy gas fields and go all the way to Poland, Germany and Ukraine. The Polish part suspended operations in 2022 starting with the Russian full scale invasion of Ukraine. Among many things these natural gas pipelines are the lifeline of substantial parts of the Russian economy, which has been turned into a war economy. It is therefore a military target.
With more Ukrainian UAV types entering service, e.g. the Flamingo missile, it is only a question of time until Ukrainian forces will target this pipeline system. It is made up by several dozens of pump stations and hubs, distributed over the length of more than 5,000 km (3,000 miles), including the Vyborg/Ust Luga line. It is impossible to protect all facilities.
People frequently ask what cards Ukraine has and I point to this case. Russia's large size, which in the past was an advantage, has turned into the exact opposite. Economic lifelines can be cut at multiple points and with devastating effects, especially when reflecting that Russia failed to divers its economy. It is an economic monoculture firmly based on energy.
Pipelines, refineries, storages and port facilities can be cut of and when necessary be directly destroyed. Russia has only three major ports where oil can be loaded fast and those are Ust-Luga, Novorossiysk and Tuapse. If those are taken out, then Russia can neither make money nor supply its (war) economy.
Targeting Russia's energy infrastructure is the most efficient way to lead Russia's economy into its downfall, and by extension the war. The Soviet Union and its dissolution was caused by an high military budget and falling revenues from energy exports. Once Moscow wasn't able to continue its aggression, the whole house of cards collapsed. The war in Afghanistan ended with a devastating Russian defeat and the peoples in the Soviet Union were in open rebellion. Neither the Soviet Army nor the Soviet intelligence services were able to contain the will for freedom. Soviet-Russia instantly lost the Cold War and ceased to exist. It was the greatest achievement in the 2nd half of the 20th century.
As I have said numerous times, no negotiations will yield peace, in the contrary. Since the beginning of this year, Russia's terrorist attacks have sharply increased thanks to appeasement. Russia only understands the language of force. Eliminating Russia's energy sector is exactly that kind of language which will resonate in Moscow, because it not only threatens the survival of the regime but Russia itself.
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