Ukraine defies Trump, puts Russian oil refineries back in the firing line
Kyiv continues strikes on energy infrastructure despite US efforts to broker a halt, highlighting tensions with Washington.
Quick Look
Ukraine resumed drone attacks on Russian oil refineries, striking facilities in Nizhny Novgorod and Samara, despite US efforts to persuade Kyiv to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.
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Why It Matters
Ukraine has routinely targeted Russian oil infrastructure with long-range drones to disrupt fuel supplies and reduce Moscow's revenue.
Ukraine has resumed drone attacks on Russian oil refineries despite US President Donald Trump's efforts to persuade Kyiv to halt strikes on Moscow's energy infrastructure, signalling growing differences between Washington and Kyiv over the conduct of the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to a report by The Guardian, citing Russian state media, Ukrainian long-range drones set fire to the Kstovo oil refinery in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region overnight on Sunday. The attack followed another strike on the Rosneft-owned Novokuybyshevsk refinery in the Samara region on Friday.
Ukrainian officials told the Kyiv Independent that Kyiv had never agreed to a proposed 30-day suspension of attacks on Russian oil refineries, which was reportedly conveyed by US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has defended strikes on Russian targets, arguing that Kyiv is responding to Moscow's continued attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. In a post on Telegram, Zelenskyy said Russian drone and ballistic missile attacks had targeted four Ukrainian regions overnight, leaving hundreds of thousands of households without electricity. He accused Moscow of exploiting Ukraine's shortage of ballistic missile interceptors, saying the intensity of Russian strikes remained extremely high.
Russia, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of disregarding US efforts to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kyiv was continuing its strikes despite Washington's position. Moscow has maintained that Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities undermine efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.
The latest strikes are part of Ukraine's wider campaign targeting Russia's oil infrastructure, which has intensified during the war. Kyiv has repeatedly targeted refineries, oil depots and export facilities using long-range drones to disrupt Russian fuel supplies, damage refining capacity and put pressure on an important source of revenue for Moscow. These facilities also supply petroleum products used by Russia's armed forces, making them strategically significant targets.
Open Questions
- Will the US pressure Kyiv further over energy strikes?
- What impact will refinery damage have on Russian fuel exports?
