Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that Ukraine has resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries, ending a pause requested by the United States. The decision follows disputes over intelligence sharing and satellite communications.
Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview with the Financial Times published on October 15, 2026. The move ends a temporary halt in strikes that Kyiv had observed following a request from the United States.
"The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done," Zelenskiy told the newspaper.
The resumption of strikes comes amid a deepening rift between Kyiv and Washington. Zelenskiy stated that Ukrainian military officials had been warned by their US counterparts that Washington would restrict intelligence sharing if Ukraine continued to strike Russian energy facilities. He also reported disruptions to Starlink satellite communications, which are critical for Ukrainian battlefield operations.
Zelenskiy dismissed suggestions that the Starlink issues were technical. "It was not a technical problem, it was the will," he said. Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX operates Starlink, stated on Wednesday that Starshield, the military-grade version of the service, is owned and controlled by the US government, which determines restrictions on its use.
The Ukrainian president said that despite the pause in strikes, Ukraine did not receive American warnings about Russian ballistic missile attacks. He noted that air raid warnings in Kyiv on October 12 and 13 came only after missiles were already approaching or striking the capital.
Zelenskiy accused Russia of continuing to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure during the pause, stating that these attacks had left more than 600,000 people without electricity. He said more than 100 civilians had been killed over the past week due to Russian strikes.
The pause in Ukrainian strikes was initially announced after US President Donald Trump stated on October 11 that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a truce in the energy sector. Sources differ on the duration of the pause; Meduza reports it lasted three days, while The Straits Times reports it lasted two days. Zelenskiy said Ukraine had stopped striking oil refineries in keeping with the US request, but Moscow did not reciprocate.
The disagreement has strained relations between Zelenskiy and Trump. Trump has promoted a deal for Russia to supply diesel to global markets, aiming to lower fuel prices. Zelenskiy criticized this agreement and Trump’s apparent admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"It’s painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side," Zelenskiy said in an interview with Piers Morgan. When asked if he felt betrayed, he replied, "Really, yes."
Zelenskiy indicated that Ukraine could agree to halt strikes on refineries again only if the United States provided additional shipments of missiles for Patriot systems, calling this the "minimum" acceptable condition.
The resumption of strikes on Russian refineries marks a significant escalation in the conflict and highlights the fragility of US-Ukraine cooperation. The dispute over intelligence sharing and satellite access underscores the strategic leverage the United States holds over Ukraine’s defensive capabilities. As energy infrastructure remains a primary target for both sides, the humanitarian impact on civilians in Ukraine continues to grow, with hundreds of thousands losing power. The diplomatic fallout may affect future military aid and intelligence cooperation, potentially altering the balance of power on the battlefield.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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