Ukraine war: Volodymyr Zelensky announces renewed attacks on Russia's oil refineries

According to a report in the Financial Times, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced new attacks on Russian oil refineries despite criticism from US President Donald Trump. The reluctance is over, said Zelenskyj in an interview with the newspaper. Most recently, Kyiv stopped counterattacks on Russian energy infrastructure for several days. This step was apparently taken out of consideration for the USA. Meanwhile, Russia intensified its attacks on Ukraine.

Zelensky also expressed anger over the "dangerous" lack of US intelligence data and the parallel throttling of the Starlink satellite internet service. "It wasn't a technical problem, it was intentional," he said. "We will find a way out," said Zelensky, without giving details. Other Western secret services also provide Kyiv with data, although information from the USA often plays a decisive role.

Russia had already reported new Ukrainian attacks on oil processing facilities in the Ryazan and Saratov regions on Wednesday. The Ryazan region reported another drone attack today. A fire broke out on the site of a refinery.

Zelenskyj has criticized the diesel deal between the USA and Russia several times in the past few days. Because of the tense market situation and high prices, the USA under Trump wants to import diesel from Russia and, to the annoyance of the EU, may want to further relax its sanctions. Ukraine complains that the USA is pouring money into Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's war chest.

After a limited ceasefire announced by Trump, Ukraine refrained from attacking its energy infrastructure, according to Zelensky. That's over now, he said. According to Zelensky, US military officials had previously told their Ukrainian colleagues that they would no longer provide intelligence data if Ukraine did not stop attacking Russian oil refineries.

Zelensky said in the interview that the USA had long been a strategic partner of Ukraine in the fight against Russia. Without the USA, the defense struggle would be “very difficult.”

At the same time, in the interview he also expressed himself clearly, as rarely, about Trump's admiration for autocrats. "He speaks openly and loudly about the fact that he loves and respects such people," the Financial Times quoted Zelensky as saying. Shortly after the interview was published, European capitals said they were concerned about a possible escalation between Kyiv and Washington.