Tomahawks & Refinery Strikes: US Escalates its Proxy War on Russia

- The Trump administration is continuing the US proxy war with Russia through Ukraine right where the previous Biden administration left off; - Not only has the Trump administration failed to end the conflict as it campaigned on doing so “within 24 hours,” it has begun a process of escalation, division of labor, and strategic sequencing targeting Russian allies Iran and China as well; - US Tomahawk cruise missiles are still being considered for deployment to Ukraine; - The most likely platform for launching them would be the Lockheed Long Range Fires (LRF) launcher abandoned by the US Marines in 2023 but still under consideration by the US Army; - Working examples of this platform exist and would provide sufficient mobility for Ukraine-based Tomahawk strikes on targets across Russia; - The missiles would likely be used to expand an already ongoing US-directed campaign targeting Russian energy production which US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced would be pressured as early as February 2025; - The US and Europe are preparing the European public for a wider and more dangerous role in the ongoing conflict as Europe will be needed to fill the void Ukraine’s collapsing fighting capacity is leaving; - The US is and will continue to extend its campaign of political subversion, economic sanctions and tariffs, as well as encouraging US client states to begin seizing Chinese assets and ramping up for proxy and even direct war and blockades on China just as it has been vis-a-vis Russia; References: ABC News - Trump admin approves new sale of anti-tank weapons to Ukraine (2019): https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-admin-approves-sale-anti-tank-weapons-ukraine/story?id=65989898 BBC - Trump says he may send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine (Oct. 13, 2025): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93xpqgzkv0o TWZ - Marines’ Tomahawk Missile Launching Drone Truck Breaks Cover (2023): https://www.twz.com/marines-tomahawk-missile-launching-drone-truck-breaks-cover TWZ - Marines Axe Adoption Of Ground-Launched Tomahawk Cruise Missile (Jul. 2025): https://www.twz.com/land/marines-axe-adoption-of-ground-launched-tomahawk-cruise-missile Naval News - U.S. Army Resurrects Cancelled Marine Corps Tomahawk Launcher for Live Fire Test in 2026 (Sep. 2025): https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/09/u-s-army-resurrects-cancelled-marine-corps-tomahawk-launcher-for-live-fire-test-in-2026/ Telegraph - Trump shares US intelligence to aid Ukraine strikes on Russian energy sites (Oct. 12, 2025): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/12/trump-shares-intelligence-ukraine-strike-russian-energy/ BBC - Surge in Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries sparks Russian fuel shortages (Oct. 2, 2025): https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx020k4056o US DoD - Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Delivered) Feb. 2025): https://www.war.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4064113/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth-at-ukraine-defense-contact/ NYT - The Spy War: How the C.I.A. Secretly Helps Ukraine Fight Putin (2024): https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/25/world/europe/cia-ukraine-intelligence-russia-war.html NYT - The Partnership: The Secret History of the War in Ukraine (Mar. 2025): https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/29/world/europe/us-ukraine-military-war-wiesbaden.html NYT - How a Top Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission Into North Korea Fell Apart (Sep. 5, 2025): https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/05/us/navy-seal-north-korea-trump-2019.html Newsweek - JD Vance Floats Donald Trump Deal To End War in Ukraine (Sep 2024): https://www.newsweek.com/jd-vance-floats-donald-trump-deal-end-russia-ukraine-war-1953302 Newsweek - JD Vance Tells Tim Dillon US Needs Weapons To Fight China, Not Russia (Oct. 2024): https://www.newsweek.com/jd-vance-tim-dillon-taiwan-priority-over-ukraine-1975851 Politico - Dutch government seizes control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia (Oct. 13, 2025): https://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-government-seize-control-china-owned-chipmaker-nexperia/ US Naval War College Review - A Maritime Oil Blockade Against China—Tactically Tempting but Strategically Flawed (2018): https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1735&context=nwc-review Irrawaddy - China-Backed Pipeline Facility Damaged in Myanmar Resistance Attack (2022): https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/china-backed-pipeline-facility-damaged-in-myanmar-resistance-attack.html Where to Find My Work: Website: https://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/ Telegram: https://t.me/brianlovethailand Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianJBerletic Rumble (YouTube alternative): https://rumble.com/c/c-1459863 How to Support my Work (and thank you!): Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TheNewAtlas Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/landdestroyer PromptPay: 0851547235