Ukraine Resumes Refinery Strikes Against Russia After Brief Ceasefire Halts
Ukraine has resumed strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, targeting a refinery in Ryazan, after ending a brief unilateral ceasefire intended to test a U.S.-proposed truce. The escalation strains relations with Washington amid disputes over intelligence sharing and satellite communications.
Ukrainian officials confirmed on Thursday that Kyiv has resumed strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, targeting an oil refinery in the Ryazan region. The move comes after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared the end of a brief, unilateral three-day halt intended to test an energy ceasefire proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Kyiv maintains that Moscow violated the truce immediately, cutting off power to hundreds of thousands of civilians through ongoing aerial bombardments.
The resumption of long-range drone strikes threatens to further strain relations between Kyiv and Washington. Zelenskyy recently accused Trump of "betrayal" following the U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel exports. Furthermore, reports indicate that the U.S. partially suspended intelligence-sharing with Ukraine and briefly restricted access to the Starlink satellite communication network, impacting drone operations and air defense capabilities.
Trump, who has pressed for an end to refinery strikes to lower fuel costs for American consumers ahead of the midterms, has not yet publicly responded to Kyiv's renewed offensive. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the strike on the Ryazan facility, located roughly 300 kilometers southeast of Moscow, caused a significant fire. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Ukraine never truly halted its attacks, an assertion rejected by Ukrainian authorities.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelenskyy criticized Trump's foreign policy approach, attributing the friction to the U.S. leader's admiration for strongman leaders. The Ukrainian president also addressed the Starlink restrictions, stating they were a deliberate political choice rather than a technical glitch. Although Ukrainian officials later reported that Starlink access had been restored, the temporary disruption severely hampered frontline coordination and air defense interception efforts.
Amidst these diplomatic frictions, fighting on the ground continues unabated. Russian forces launched a massive drone barrage overnight, resulting in casualties and widespread infrastructure damage across Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted a significant portion of the incoming threats, but gaps remain as advanced interceptor stocks dwindle. Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine would only consider re-imposing a halt on energy strikes if provided with additional Patriot air defense systems to protect its cities.
