Russia says Ukraine resumes attacks on oil refineries | Russia-Ukraine war News
Russia Reports Attack on Oil Refinery; Ukraine Resumes Strikes Amid Tensions
Russia has accused Ukraine of conducting an attack on an oil refinery in Ryazan, located approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of Moscow. The incident follows statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who declared that Kyiv is no longer observing an energy ceasefire previously announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“The Kyiv regime attempted a large-scale attack on an oil refinery in Ryazan,” the Russian defense ministry stated on Thursday, adding that a fire erupted at the facility due to drone debris landing on the site.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelenskyy expressed that strikes on Russian oil refineries would resume and criticized the U.S. for allegedly undermining Ukraine’s military position through diminished intelligence sharing.
Trump announced the energy ceasefire on Sunday, a move that has yet to be officially confirmed. While Kyiv temporarily halted its attacks on Russian energy facilities in response, Moscow continued its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The U.S. government has urged Ukraine to refrain from attacks on Russian refineries, arguing that a reduction in hostilities, coupled with a deal to procure 1.8 million tonnes of diesel from Russia, would help alleviate soaring fuel prices.
“This politically is not simple [in America], because everybody will want to ask how it can be when some people are surviving, fighting, dying – and you make . . . business with the guys with such aggression,” Zelenskyy stated in his interview.
The Ukrainian president also raised concerns that access to SpaceX’s satellite internet service has been restricted, potentially compromising the country’s military operations against Russian forces. The Ukrainian armed forces utilize SpaceX’s Starshield system for both offensive and defensive strategies.
In response, Elon Musk remarked on social media that only the U.S. military and Trump possessed the authority to control the usage and speed of Starshield. He also suggested that it is time for Zelenskyy to step down as Ukraine’s leader.
“Time for Zelensky to go,” Musk stated in a post on platform X.
Ukraine continues to rely heavily on Western military assistance in its conflict with Russia, particularly from the U.S. and Germany. However, recent weeks have seen tensions escalate between Kyiv and Washington, especially following Trump’s calls for Zelenskyy’s replacement.
Amid these strained relations, Zelenskyy signaled a willingness to pause attacks on Russian energy assets again, contingent upon receiving critical Patriot missile defense systems from the U.S.
Zelenskyy is expected to meet with European leaders in Brussels on Thursday to advocate for stricter sanctions on Russia and expedited support from the European Union.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten urged EU leaders to enhance their efforts to ensure Ukraine’s success in the ongoing war against Russia. While the EU has committed $50 billion in support for Ukraine next year, this amount falls significantly short of the $175 billion that Kyiv anticipates needing for its defense efforts.
Trump has denied any claims that the U.S. has ceased its intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
