The attack on "Olenegorsk Mine" was the first time Russian oil export infrastructure was threatened as a source of funding for the war against Ukraine, reports the Financial Times.

The publication suggests that this is causing concern in Western capitals, which fear rising oil prices ahead of the US presidential election.

Novorossiysk is Russia's key Black Sea oil port, exporting about 600,000 barrels of oil per day and playing the role of an oil export point from Kazakhstan.

Former CIA analyst Gelima Croft believes that any reduction in Russian oil supplies would be undesirable for the White House, as it would make it more difficult to support Ukraine amid the energy crisis.