Ukraine resumes attacks on Russian oil refineries as U.S. relations teeter
The Hindu – International
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Weather News October 15, 2026 e-Paper
Published – October 15, 2026 10:32 pm IST – Kyiv
A satellite image shows destruction at an airfield, where Ukraine's navy said it had destroyed six Russian Su-34M military aircraft in an overnight strike in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Region, Russia, on October 15, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Ukrainian drones attacked a refinery in Russia's Ryazan region early Thursday, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a brief truce spurned by Moscow was over amid deepening tensions with Washington.
The drone strike started a fire at the refinery about 300 kilometres southeast of Moscow, Russia's Defence Ministry and Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov said. Russia's Astra online news outlet posted what it said was a photograph of the blaze.
A senior Ukrainian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to speak publicly, confirmed that Ukraine had hit the refinery.
The strike could further complicate Kyiv's relations with US President Donald Trump, which have soured again in recent days.
Mr. Zelenskyy was outraged by Russia's continuing aerial bombardment of his country's energy infrastructure in apparent defiance of Trump's demand on Sunday for both sides to halt those attacks.
The Ukrainian government said that it was heeding the ceasefire, but Kremlin spokeperson Dmitry Peskov said that Ukraine never stopped its strikes on refineries that have hurt Russia. It wasn't possible to independently verify each side's claims.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov labelled Ukraine's strikes on oil facilities as a “direct and crude challenge to President Trump.”
Mr. Zelenskyy complained that, despite going along with Trump's demand for a truce, Ukraine in recent days was denied the usual Western intelligence on Russian ballistic missile strikes and limits were placed on its use of US-made Starlink communication terminals. Both are vital for Ukrainian defences and attack operations.
The Ukrainian leader said that his patience had run out. He said in an interview with the Financial Times published Thursday that Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries would resume. “We're done,” he was quoted as saying.
Mr. Trump made a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import Russian diesel, despite international efforts to sanction Russia for its invasion and diplomatically isolate Putin.
Mr. Zelenskyy slammed the agreement, saying it would allow Russia to press on with its full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began more than 4.5 years ago. US efforts under Trump to end the war have made no progress.
Mr. Zelenskyy said in an interview late Wednesday (October 14, 2026) with Piers Morgan on the British journalist's YouTube show that he felt betrayed by Trump's deal with Putin, the energy ceasefire announcement and the Starlink operational issues.
“Really, yes, between us,” Mr. Zelenskyy said when asked if he felt betrayed by the American president. “Our country has to survive, and we count on our real partners, strategic partners, the United States and President Trump.”
He said that the U.S. behaviour “was really strange and what was not like between partners but that they switch off Starlink, so some actually crazy steps between us.”
In the same interview, Mr. Zelenskyy said “we are losing a strong partner” in the United States. He said that “it's painful when President Trump chooses one side, not our side. But we are OK that he's in the middle.”
Mr. Zelenskyy said someone is pushing Mr. Trump into a stance that is “not the right side of history.”
The Starlink speed limits choked Ukrainian efforts to defend itself and hit back against Russia, Kyiv officials said.
The absence of Western intelligence leaves Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian ballistic missiles. Mr. Trump has said the U.S. hasn't stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
Published – October 15, 2026 10:32 pm IST
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Fonte: The Hindu – International