Ukraine Ends Pause and Resumes Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on 15 October 2026 that his country would resume drone strikes on Russian oil refineries after a three-day pause requested by the United States.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelensky said the temporary halt had not been reciprocated. Russia continued strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, killing more than 100 civilians in the preceding week. "The block is out. We’re done," he stated.

The first strike after the pause hit the Ryazan oil refinery, owned by Rosneft. Regional Governor Pavel Malkov reported a fire at the plant following a large-scale drone attack. The facility processes nearly 5 percent of Russia’s refining throughput and supplies fuel to the Moscow region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin later described the damage as limited. Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the attempt and said debris from intercepted drones started the fire.

The pause followed a surprise "energy ceasefire" announced by US President Donald Trump on 11 October. Trump had sought to ease global diesel prices by stopping attacks on energy targets and arranging a purchase of Russian diesel. Ukraine stopped strikes for three days. Moscow did not.

Zelensky also criticised restrictions on US intelligence sharing and on Starlink terminals during the pause. He said the Starlink slowdown was not a technical fault but a deliberate decision. Service was later restored.

He indicated Ukraine would consider another pause only in exchange for additional Patriot air-defence interceptors. Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and power plants continued throughout the three days.

The resumption comes as global fuel markets remain tight. High diesel and gasoline prices in the United States have been linked in part to reduced Russian export volumes and to the wider conflict involving Iran. Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign has repeatedly targeted Russian refining capacity, forcing temporary shutdowns at multiple plants.

Ryazan has been struck several times in 2025 and 2026. Earlier attacks disabled distillation units. The latest hit followed Zelensky’s public declaration that the US-requested restraint had ended.

Putin warned of consequences if Ukraine continued striking Russian energy and industrial sites. Ukrainian officials maintain that the campaign reduces Russian revenue and military fuel supplies while Russia keeps attacking civilian power infrastructure.

The exchange leaves the brief energy truce collapsed within days of its announcement. No formal agreement between the two sides was ever confirmed by either military. The practical result is a return to mutual strikes on energy targets while the wider war continues.

For Ukrainian civilians facing winter with damaged power plants, and for Russian refining capacity already under repeated pressure, the next weeks will show whether either side can impose costs the other cannot absorb. The United States has not publicly responded to Zelensky’s statement that the pause is over.