Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Resume Strikes on Russian Refineries After Three-Day Pause

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian oil refineries after pausing for three days at the request of the United States. “The block is out. We’re done,” he told the Financial Times in an interview conducted in London.

Zelensky said Ukraine had held off on the attacks to comply with a unilateral “energy ceasefire” announced by President Donald Trump over the weekend. Russia did not stop. Ukrainian officials reported continued Russian strikes on energy infrastructure that left hundreds of thousands without power and killed more than 100 civilians in the preceding week. Zelensky added that Kyiv received no advance American warnings about incoming Russian ballistic missiles during the pause and that Starlink operations had been restricted.

The same day, Russian authorities reported a fire at a Rosneft refinery in the Ryazan region southeast of Moscow after a major Ukrainian drone attack. Regional governor Pavel Malkov said the facility, which accounts for nearly 5 percent of Russia’s refining capacity, was hit. A Ukrainian official confirmed the strike as retaliation for Russian energy attacks. Russian military statements claimed most drones and missiles were intercepted, with the fire caused by falling debris.

Trump has pressed Ukraine to stop hitting Russian refineries, linking the attacks to higher diesel prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. He announced a deal under which the United States would buy Russian diesel. Zelensky criticized what he described as Washington’s readiness to pursue business arrangements with Moscow while Russia continued its campaign. He said Ukrainian military officials were told that if Kyiv did not stop the strikes, the United States would withhold intelligence sharing.

Zelensky indicated he would consider another pause only if the United States supplied additional Patriot interceptor missiles. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak had earlier stated that Ukrainian forces struck refineries in both Saratov and Ryazan. The Kremlin maintained that Ukraine never fully stopped the attacks.

The exchange marks a public break between Kyiv and the Trump administration over the terms of any energy restraint. Ukraine’s decision returns the targeting of Russian refining capacity to the center of the war’s economic dimension as winter approaches and both sides face energy shortages. The Ryazan strike demonstrates that Ukrainian forces retain the capability to reach facilities deep inside Russia even after a short pause.

Whether the resumption produces a sustained reduction in Russian diesel exports, or simply invites heavier Russian retaliation against Ukrainian power plants, will become clearer in the coming days. For now, Zelensky has stated the three-day restraint is over.