Budanov Says Strikes on Russian Oil Terminal Strengthen Ukraine’s Position in Talks

Ukraine’s former intelligence chief and now head of the Presidential Office said recent intensified attacks on Russian oil are strengthening Kyiv’s position ahead of future talks with Russia. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Head of Ukrainian Presidency Office Kyrylo Budanov arrives with the delegation at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on Jan. 6, 2026, prior to the Coalition of the Willing summit on security guarantees for Ukraine. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, said Thursday that attacks on Russian oil terminals are strengthening Ukraine’s position in ongoing negotiations. Speaking at a briefing at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Budanov said “definitely” when asked if recent intensified strikes on Russian energy were impacting the negotiation process. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “They definitely are. That’s obvious,” Budanov said, according to state media Ukinform . Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian oil facilities – particularly those on the Baltic ports – with the Baltic strikes alone estimated to have cost Moscow nearly $1 billion in oil revenue within a week. Budanov, who recently said some of Ukraine’s allies had urged a pause in strikes on Russian oil infrastructure amid rising energy prices, added that he expects “a lot of new things” in upcoming talks with Moscow but questioned whether Moscow’s position would change despite the strikes, according to Ukrinform. “In the next negotiations with them, I think we will hear a lot of new things. In any case, this significantly strengthens our position, and does not make it, as they say, weak. We must do everything to strengthen our victorious position,” Budanov said. Ukrainian forces struck the Ust-Luga oil terminal in Russia’s Leningrad region overnight on April 7, where additional drone strikes were also reported at the Sheskharis oil terminal at the port of Novorossiysk region on April 6. Other Topics of Interest Russian Sources: Ukraine is Fielding New AI-Capable Drones That Can’t Be Detected or Jammed Official Kyiv says its drones work well and new ones are being tested. So far, only the Russian side confirms a next-generation Ukrainian drone is in action. A major oil export pumping station in Russia’s Krasnodar was also targeted by Ukraine on Thursday morning, with the strikes now reaching near-daily frequency in recent weeks. Emiry Callum is a Social Media Editor and Editorial Writer at Kyiv Post. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and human communication from the University of Central Florida and has over a decade of experience in copywriting, copy editing, and marketing.