Ukraine Resumes Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries as Tensions With US Deepen

Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, striking a refinery in the Ryazan region southeast of Moscow, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared an end to Kyiv’s pause on targeting Russian energy facilities amid growing tensions with the United States.

The attack occurred early Thursday, October 15, 2026, hours after Zelenskyy said Ukraine would no longer observe the suspension of refinery strikes following continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Russian officials said a fire broke out at the refinery after debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones fell on the facility. Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed the fire, while Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defences had intercepted a large number of drones and missiles targeting the installation. A senior Ukrainian official also confirmed that Ukraine had struck the refinery, according to reports by Reuters and the Associated Press.

The facility, owned by Russian state oil company Rosneft, is an important part of the country’s refining network and helps supply fuel to Moscow and surrounding areas. The extent of the damage and its impact on operations were still being assessed.

The renewed attack follows a brief pause in Ukrainian strikes after US President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire over the weekend, calling on both Russia and Ukraine to stop attacks on energy infrastructure. However, Kyiv said Moscow continued launching missiles and drones against Ukrainian facilities, including power and gas infrastructure.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelenskyy said the restriction on attacks against Russian refineries had ended. He argued that Ukraine could not be expected to maintain a pause while Russian forces continued striking its own energy facilities and civilian areas.

The dispute has added to an increasingly strained relationship between Kyiv and Washington. Zelenskyy has criticised the Trump administration over its approach to Russia, including its interest in energy-related business arrangements with Moscow and concerns about the availability of US intelligence support.

Ukrainian officials have also raised concerns about changes affecting military communications through Starlink and the interruption of advance warnings about incoming Russian missiles. These systems are important to Ukraine’s ability to detect attacks, coordinate forces and operate drones. Trump has denied that Washington stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, while the extent and reasons for the reported disruptions remain disputed.

The US administration has pressed Kyiv to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, arguing that the strikes could worsen fuel-market pressures. The disagreement comes as Ukraine continues to depend heavily on American military technology and intelligence while seeking greater support from European allies.

Meanwhile, Russia continued its aerial attacks on Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported casualties in the central Kirovohrad region and damage to energy infrastructure, underscoring the continuing threat to the country’s civilian population and electricity and gas supplies.

The collapse of the brief energy truce raises fresh questions about Washington’s efforts to limit attacks on energy facilities and advance negotiations to end the war. With both sides continuing to accuse each other of undermining peace efforts, the latest developments threaten to deepen the conflict and complicate diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire.