Ukraine Strikes Russian Refinery as Tensions Grow Over U.S. Ceasefire Push
ukraine strikes russian refinery. Russian authorities report a Ukrainian strike on a major oil refinery in Ryazan following attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, President Trump criticizes Ukrainian President Zelenskyy as tensions mount over an energy ceasefire proposal.
Russian authorities state that Ukraine struck a major oil refinery in Ryazan, located southeast of Moscow. The strike followed attacks by Russia on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and both sides appear to have disregarded an energy ceasefire that President Trump declared.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he was done trying to abide by Trump’s energy ceasefire because Russia never ceased its attacks on Ukrainian electrical and heating infrastructure. The extent of the damage from the refinery strike remains unknown.
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President Vladimir Putin played down the seriousness of the strike on the oil facility but described it as part of a pattern of surprise Ukrainian attacks that Russia would avenge twice over. Putin stated that Ukraine takes measures and hits targets that Russia did not anticipate, and noted that when Russia responds, Ukraine’s Western backers lean on Russia to stop.
Ukrainian drones have also repeatedly struck Russia’s premier tech companies and data centers in recent days to disrupt services.
President Trump stated in an interview that he wants to end the war and blamed Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for preventing him from accomplishing that, adding that dealing with Putin was easier than dealing with Zelenskyy.
They're going to end up with a settlement of some kind. They're not going to do it with him. He doesn't want to settle. He says he wants to settle, but he doesn't. No, I'm not a big fan of Zelenskyy. They've destroyed that country.
The conflict escalated following an agreement that Trump struck with Putin to buy Russian diesel fuel in defiance of sanctions to tamp down gas prices before U.S. midterm elections. Zelenskyy criticized the deal for providing Russia with additional billions for its war chest, and Ukraine’s air force confirmed that it is now out of U.S.-made Patriot missiles.
The Kremlin confirmed it has started releasing the fuel to global markets.
