Russia has accused Ukraine of attempting a major attack on an oil refinery south of Moscow, shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared an end to a temporary halt on targeting Russian energy facilities. The Russian defence ministry stated that four missiles and dozens of drones were intercepted over the Ryazan region early on Thursday, with falling debris triggering a fire at the refinery site.
The accusation follows statements from Zelensky confirming that Kyiv would resume its strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. The Ukrainian leader had previously restricted such operations for three days following a proposal brokered by the United States, but said the pause was over because Russian forces continued targeting Ukraine’s power grid and urban areas.
Tensions Over US Support and Satellite Services
In interviews regarding the situation, Zelensky accused Washington of withholding intelligence on Russian air strikes and intentionally placing restrictions on Starlink satellite connections to pressure Ukraine into stopping its attacks. Ukrainian military forces rely heavily on American early-warning alerts to intercept incoming aerial threats, as well as satellite communications to manage drone operations across the battlefield.
According to sources within Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, restrictions affecting the mobile operations of military-focused Starshield units were restored by Thursday morning. US President Donald Trump denied allegations that intelligence-sharing had been suspended. Meanwhile, Zelensky criticized a recent deal between the US and Russia involving 300,000 tonnes of diesel, arguing it indirectly supported Moscow’s war effort.
Escalating Bombardment and Diplomatic Demands
Zelensky stated that he would only consider halting strikes on Russian oil facilities—which Kyiv considers crucial for reducing Moscow’s revenues—if the United States provided additional Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. Supply shortages of these defence systems have grown more severe in recent months.
The resurgence in strikes coincides with heavy Russian bombardments across Ukraine. Local officials reported at least 13 deaths over a 24-hour period, with Zelensky noting that more than 850 drones were launched at numerous cities, causing significant damage to domestic infrastructure.
Source: BBC News
