Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the resumption of attacks on Russian energy infrastructure after accusing Moscow of violating a proposed ceasefire and Washington of restricting intelligence and satellite communications critical to Ukraine’s defense.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Ukraine resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries Thursday, October 15, striking a facility in the Ryazan region after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Kyiv would no longer observe a proposed energy ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump.
The renewed strikes followed days of mounting tensions between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, disruptions to American intelligence sharing and restrictions affecting military satellite communications.
“The block (on attacking refineries) is out. We’re done,” Zelenskyy told the Financial Times in an interview published Thursday.
The announcement came as Russian officials reported a large Ukrainian drone attack on an oil refinery in Ryazan, approximately 110 miles southeast of Moscow.
Regional Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed that the attack caused a fire at the facility, with emergency crews responding to the scene.
“The material damage is now being assessed. Emergency services are working at the scene,” Malkov wrote on Telegram.
According to Reuters, the strike marked Ukraine’s return to attacks against Russian refineries following a brief suspension intended to comply with Trump’s demand for an end to energy infrastructure attacks.
Trump announced the proposed ceasefire Sunday after reaching an agreement allowing Russian diesel exports to international markets. The president argued that Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries were contributing to rising global fuel prices.
Kyiv temporarily halted its refinery strikes, but Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of continuing attacks against civilian energy infrastructure throughout the pause.
On Wednesday, Russian missile and drone strikes damaged dozens of Ukrainian energy facilities, leaving approximately 600,000 people without electricity.
The attacks affected Kyiv and Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, intensifying concerns about the country’s ability to maintain essential services as colder weather approaches.
Zelenskyy said the continued bombardment demonstrated that Russia had not reciprocated Ukraine’s restraint, leaving Kyiv with little reason to continue suspending its own operations.
The Ukrainian president also sharply criticized Washington over what he described as a dangerous disruption in intelligence assistance during Russian missile attacks.
Ukrainian officials reported that their forces had stopped receiving certain American early-warning alerts concerning incoming Russian ballistic missiles.
Zelenskyy said American officials had warned that intelligence sharing could be restricted unless Ukraine stopped targeting Russian energy infrastructure.
Trump has denied that Washington halted intelligence cooperation, and the precise extent of any interruption remains disputed.
The dispute intensified following unexpected restrictions on Starshield, the military satellite communications service developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Ukrainian forces reported that the service had been limited on platforms traveling faster than approximately 100 mph, disrupting drone operations and other battlefield activities.
Musk responded Wednesday by stating that operational restrictions on Starshield were determined by the U.S. military and ultimately the president.
“Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” Musk wrote on X.
Zelenskyy rejected suggestions that the satellite disruptions resulted from technical problems.
“It was not a technical problem, it was the will,” he told the Financial Times.
The Ukrainian president argued that the restrictions had undermined his country’s defenses at a time when Russian missile and drone attacks were intensifying.
However, no public confirmation has established who specifically authorized the communications restrictions or whether they were directly connected to Ukraine’s refinery strikes.
By Thursday, Ukrainian officials reported improvements in Starshield service. An official also told Axios that the satellite communications systems had been restored to full capacity.
The confrontation comes amid broader disagreements over Trump’s approach to negotiations with Moscow.
Last week, Washington announced a deal involving Russian diesel supplies, which the administration presented as a measure to reduce energy costs.
Zelenskyy criticized the agreement, arguing that renewed economic cooperation with Russia could provide Moscow with additional revenue while its invasion of Ukraine continues.
Trump also called for Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy, further straining relations between the two governments.
Despite the disagreements, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine could consider another suspension of strikes on Russian energy facilities under different conditions.
Asked whether Kyiv would halt attacks to improve relations with Washington, he said Ukraine would require additional American-made Patriot air defense interceptors in return.
Zelenskyy described the additional interceptors as the minimum acceptable condition for renewed restraint, emphasizing Ukraine’s urgent need to defend its cities and energy infrastructure.
Russia’s continued attacks and Ukraine’s renewed refinery strikes have cast doubt on the viability of the ceasefire proposal.
The developments also highlight the growing tensions between Washington and Kyiv as Trump pursues negotiations with Moscow while Ukraine seeks to maintain military pressure on Russia.
With the proposed energy truce effectively abandoned, both countries have resumed attacks on infrastructure central to their economies and war efforts, complicating prospects for a broader settlement.
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