Zelensky says Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian refineries, as frustration with Trump mounts

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries. He said the restriction against attacking them had ended. “The block is out. We’re done,” he told the Financial Times in London. The announcement shows how sharply relations with President Donald Trump have deteriorated.

The decision followed US pressure for Ukraine to stop deep attacks on Russian energy facilities. The Trump administration warned that intelligence sharing and some weapons support could be suspended. Zelensky said Ukrainian officials were told that intelligence might be blocked if the energy strikes continued.

The announcement could intensify debate among Ukraine, the United States, and European allies. Russia and Ukraine have already increased attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure. Zelensky also criticized Trump’s proposed Russian diesel deal and his approach to Vladimir Putin, saying Ukraine was losing a strong partner.

An oil refinery is an industrial facility that processes crude oil into fuels and other petroleum products. These include diesel, gasoline, and fuel used by aircraft and ships. Refineries are important because crude oil cannot usually be used directly in most engines. A country needs functioning processing plants to turn it into practical energy.

If attacks damage a refinery, fuel production can fall. Supplies may become tighter, and prices can rise as buyers compete for available fuel. The article describes energy facilities as targets while Russia and Ukraine intensify attacks on each other’s infrastructure.

The military impact can be immediate. Armies need fuel for vehicles, generators, aircraft, and supply systems. Civilian transport, heating, businesses, and electricity generation can also be affected. Damage therefore creates pressure on both the battlefield and the economy, though the article does not quantify the specific effects of any refinery attack.

No number of people left without power appears in the provided article. The text says Russian forces launched fresh attacks on Ukraine and that both sides intensified strikes on energy infrastructure. However, it does not state how many homes, residents, or communities lost electricity.

The article focuses instead on military consequences. It describes a lack of missile warnings after concerns about US intelligence sharing. It also says Ukrainian officials reported restrictions on Starshield, a military-grade version of Elon Musk’s satellite system. Zelensky warned that the disruption could cause deaths.

Because the source supplies no outage figure, a precise answer would require another report or official statement. The available text establishes that energy facilities were under attack and that Ukraine faced serious communications and warning problems, but it does not connect those attacks to a stated number of people without power.

President Donald Trump wants Ukraine to stop striking Russian energy facilities as he works to bring down energy costs ahead of the US midterm elections. His administration also warned that intelligence sharing and some European purchases of US weapons could be suspended if Ukraine continued deep strikes.

The policy connects battlefield restraint with fuel markets. Trump wrote that Vladimir Putin had agreed to supply Russian diesel to markets. The article describes the proposed purchase as controversial and says it drew criticism from both US political parties and anger from European allies. More Russian fuel entering markets could support Trump’s effort to reduce energy costs.

Zelensky strongly opposed the approach. He called the fuel agreement a simple victory for the Kremlin and said Trump was choosing Russia’s side. Ukraine’s announcement that refinery strikes would resume therefore raises the possibility of renewed conflict over US support, energy policy, and military priorities.

US intelligence sharing helps Ukraine detect and respond to Russian attacks. The article says this information provides the locations of missile launchers, the directions of strikes, and their timing. Losing that information could make missile warnings slower or less complete, leaving defenses less prepared.

Starlink restrictions create a related problem. Ukrainian officials said limits affected Starshield, the military-grade version of Elon Musk’s satellite system. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces use the satellite system to defend against Russia’s jet-powered Shahed drones. He warned that service disruption could bring heavy losses.

The article presents the restrictions as part of pressure on Ukraine to stop attacking Russian energy facilities. US officials insisted intelligence sharing continued, but Ukrainian and European officials questioned why missile warnings were missing. Musk said Starshield is controlled by the US government, while Starlink is controlled by SpaceX. The immediate effect remained disputed, but Ukraine feared serious battlefield consequences.

An energy ceasefire is a temporary agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. It could cover oil facilities, power plants, or other sites supporting fuel and electricity supplies. The aim is to protect essential systems even while broader fighting continues.

The article gives a clear example of the uncertainty. President Trump said an “energy ceasefire” had come into effect. Yet neither Moscow nor Kyiv had publicly confirmed the measure. Russian forces then launched fresh attacks on Ukraine just hours later. This shows how a claimed ceasefire may not produce a pause on the ground.

Fighting can continue when one side does not accept the agreement, when the terms are unclear, or when attacks are disputed. The article does not identify which explanation applied in this case. It shows that statements by one government cannot by themselves guarantee compliance, especially while Russia and Ukraine continue striking energy infrastructure.

Energy infrastructure includes facilities that produce, process, transport, or distribute fuel and electricity. Refineries are especially important because they turn crude oil into usable products such as diesel and gasoline. Damage can reduce available supplies and make energy more expensive when replacement fuel is harder to obtain.

The military mechanism is direct. Armies need fuel for vehicles, aircraft, generators, and logistics. Power and communications systems also support command operations and civilian resilience. The article says Russia and Ukraine have intensified attacks on energy infrastructure while battlefield movement remains relatively stagnant. Energy strikes therefore add pressure beyond frontline combat.

The economic effects can spread widely. Higher fuel costs can affect transport, businesses, food distribution, and household budgets. Lower supplies can also limit military operations and emergency services. The article links energy strikes to US pressure on Ukraine, but it does not provide specific price changes or production losses from the attacks described.