Ukraine’s targeted strikes on Ilsky refinery expose energy’s role in funding war economies—part of a broader pattern of militarised resource control

Indigenous knowledge systems, such as those of the Nenets people in Russia’s Arctic, have long warned of the ecological and cultural devastation wrought by oil infrastructure. Their resistance to drilling on sacred lands highlights how energy extraction is not merely an economic issue but a violation of Indigenous sovereignty and environmental stewardship. The Ilsky refinery’s operation ignores these warnings, reinforcing a pattern where corporate and state interests override Indigenous rights, particularly in regions where oil is weaponised for geopolitical ends. This dimension is critical because it exposes the colonial roots of modern energy wars, where Indigenous lands and resources are exploited to fund conflicts that disproportionately harm their communities.