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Ukraine Warupdated 2h ago3 min read

Zelenskyy Orders Ukraine To Resume Strikes On Russian Oil Refineries In Ryazan

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Zelenskyy ordered resumption of strikes on Russian oil refineries. Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at Ryazan refinery.

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Zelenskyy Orders Ukraine To Resume Strikes On Russian Oil Refineries In Ryazan
Image: Українські Національні Новини (УНН)

Ryazan strikes resume

Russian forces said Ukraine resumed attacks on an oil refinery in Ryazan, and Moscow’s defence ministry said a “fire broke out after drone debris fell onto the refinery site.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that the pause was over, saying, “It is over,” about the halt on energy strikes. Pavel Malokov said Ukrainian drones struck the Ryazan region and caused a fire at an oil refinery, and the Russian Defense Ministry and regional governor reported the strike.

Russia accused Kyiv of a “large-scale attack on an oil refinery in Ryazan,” as Zelenskyy described himself as “done” with an energy ceasefire announced by Donald Trump. Zelensky announced the lifting of restrictions on targeting Russian oil refineries after Moscow continued striking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and Kyiv resumed attacks on Thursday targeting a facility in the Ryazan region.

Image from 21News
Image: 21News
Reporting for this sectionAl Jazeera21News

Starlink and intelligence fight

Zelenskyy accused the United States of weakening Ukraine’s position by allegedly withdrawing crucial intelligence sharing, and he told the Financial Times, “This politically is not simple [in America], because everybody will want to ask how it can be when some people are surviving, fighting, dying – and you make . . . business with the guys with such aggression,” Elon Musk said on X that only the US military and Donald Trump had the authority to limit Starshield’s usage and speed for clients, and Al Jazeera reported that Ukraine’s officials said restrictions affected Starlink terminals used for military communications. Ukrainian defence sources reported that some Starlink functionality had resumed as of Thursday morning, and the sources said Starshield’s “operation while on the move” had been restored.

Zelensky told the FT that Ukrainian officials had been told by US counterparts that “if you will not stop [the strikes], we will block intelligence.” Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that “It was not a technical problem, it was the will,” as he described the sudden Starlink restrictions. BBC also reported that Zelensky told the FT that Ukrainian officials had been told by US counterparts that “if you will not stop [the strikes], we will block intelligence.”

Image from ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Image: ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Reporting for this sectionAl JazeeraBBC

Ceasefire at risk

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries after a three-day pause at the request of the United States, and Al-Tilfizyun Al-Arabi said he told the Financial Times, “The ban on refinery attacks is over, the matter is settled.” Zelensky linked the lifting of the ban to Moscow continuing to strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and the Kremlin said the scope of Trump’s ceasefire was not clearly defined. Zelensky said he would agree to the “energy ceasefire” announced by Trump if Moscow also abided by it, while the Kremlin never said it had agreed to the deal.

“The ban on refinery attacks is over, the matter is settled.”
Al-Tilfizyun Al-Arabi

The resumption of attacks tests the proposed truce to halt attacks on energy facilities and raises concerns about a widening disruption to global diesel markets, and Zelensky accused Moscow of ignoring the lull. Zelensky said he “will not stop strikes on the energy sector unless we receive more Patriot missiles in return,” as it also described Trump urging Ukraine to select new leadership and Britain expressing solidarity with Zelensky.

Reporting for this sectionAl-Tilfizyun Al-ArabiAnnahar