UKRAINE RESUMES STRIKES ON RUSSIAN OIL REFINERIES AS STARLINK ROW DEEPENS RIFT WITH WASHINGTON

Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries after a brief pause, striking a major Rosneft facility in the Ryazan region as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that Kyiv was effectively done observing an informal energy ceasefire that Russia never formally confirmed. The renewed offensive comes as relations between Kyiv and Washington deteriorate over U.S. pressure to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, questions surrounding reduced intelligence support and a separate dispute over restrictions affecting the Starlink and Starshield satellite systems used by Ukrainian forces.

The latest strike hit the Ryazan oil refinery overnight into Thursday, triggering a fire at the facility, according to regional Governor Pavel Malkov. He said emergency services were deployed to the site and that authorities were assessing material damage. Ukrainian officials also confirmed that Kyiv had resumed long range operations against Russian energy infrastructure after temporarily holding back in response to pressure from Washington.

The Ryazan refinery, owned by Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosneft, is one of the country’s most important fuel processing facilities and supplies significant quantities of petroleum products to the Moscow region. The plant accounts for close to 5 percent of Russia’s total refining throughput and has been targeted several times during the war as Ukraine attempts to weaken the energy revenues and fuel logistics that support Moscow’s military operations.

Thursday’s attack marked the first confirmed Ukrainian strike on a Russian energy facility since U.S. President Donald Trump announced over the weekend that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to stop targeting each other’s energy infrastructure. Neither government publicly confirmed that a formal bilateral ceasefire had been reached, and Zelenskyy later said the announcement had come as a surprise to him.

Ukraine nevertheless refrained from attacking Russian refineries for several days while it waited to see whether Moscow would reciprocate. Zelenskyy said Kyiv was prepared to continue observing a halt in attacks on energy infrastructure if Russia stopped striking Ukrainian power facilities, but Ukrainian officials said Russian missile and drone attacks continued during the supposed pause.

Those attacks hit electricity generation and distribution infrastructure across Ukraine, causing large-scale blackouts and renewed disruption to civilian life. Ukrainian authorities said hundreds of thousands of people temporarily lost power after Russian strikes on generating facilities and transmission networks. Zelenskyy argued that Moscow’s continued attacks demonstrated there was no functioning energy ceasefire and removed any reason for Ukraine to continue exercising restraint.

In an interview published Thursday, the Ukrainian president said his government had paused energy strikes for approximately three days in response to American requests but had now concluded that the arrangement was not working. Kyiv would therefore resume targeting Russian refineries and other energy assets it considers directly connected to Russia’s war effort.

Ukraine has increasingly used domestically developed long-range drones and missiles to attack refineries, fuel depots, pumping stations and export infrastructure hundreds of miles inside Russian territory. Kyiv argues that these facilities are legitimate military targets because petroleum revenues finance Russia’s defense budget and refined products supply Russian troops.

Moscow rejects that argument and describes the attacks as terrorism directed against civilian economic infrastructure. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes on refineries had caused relatively limited damage and promised that Russia would respond. Russian officials have repeatedly accused Ukraine of attempting to destabilize energy markets and inflict economic damage on ordinary civilians.

The dispute has become entangled with global fuel prices and increasingly tense negotiations involving Washington. Trump has criticized Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, arguing that they have contributed to pressure on international diesel supplies and higher prices. His administration has pushed Kyiv to suspend strikes while pursuing arrangements designed to increase the amount of Russian fuel reaching global markets.

Zelenskyy has strongly objected to that approach. He argues that allowing Russia to earn additional revenue from energy sales while simultaneously asking Ukraine to stop attacking the infrastructure supporting those exports weakens economic pressure on Moscow and gives the Kremlin more resources to continue the war.

The Ukrainian leader has said any future agreement to halt attacks on Russian oil infrastructure would have to produce a concrete security benefit for Ukraine. One option he raised was receiving additional U.S. made Patriot air defense interceptors, which Kyiv says are urgently needed to defend cities and critical infrastructure against ballistic missile attacks.

The renewed refinery strikes are unfolding at the same time as a separate crisis involving satellite communications that have become essential to Ukrainian military operations. Ukrainian defense officials said earlier this week that restrictions were suddenly imposed on Starlink and Starshield services, affecting drones, battlefield communications and other military missions.

According to Ukrainian defense technology adviser Serhii Beskrestnov, terminals moving above approximately 100 miles per hour were affected by speed related restrictions, creating problems for drones that rely on satellite connections for navigation, command and communications. Some missions were reportedly disrupted or abandoned because terminals temporarily lost connectivity while the aircraft were traveling at high speed.

The limitations were particularly significant because Ukrainian forces increasingly rely on long range drones for both offensive strikes and defensive interception missions. Starlink connectivity has been used across the Ukrainian military for battlefield communications, reconnaissance and logistics, while the more secure Starshield system is designed specifically for government and military customers.

The restrictions immediately triggered questions about whether SpaceX had intentionally limited Ukraine’s use of the system. Elon Musk rejected suggestions that he personally ordered the restrictions and said Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government.

Musk wrote that limits on Starshield speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately by the president. His comments appeared to shift responsibility toward Washington, but U.S. officials subsequently denied that the Trump administration had ordered the restrictions.

That leaves the precise chain of responsibility unresolved. Ukrainian officials have requested explanations from SpaceX and U.S. authorities, while some officials in Kyiv have openly questioned whether the disruption was connected to Washington’s pressure over refinery attacks.

The satellite dispute has become politically sensitive because it coincided with Ukrainian complaints that the country was also receiving fewer advance warnings about Russian ballistic missile launches. Zelenskyy said Ukraine did not receive the usual level of warning before some recent Russian strikes and stressed that intelligence about missile launches can determine whether civilians have enough time to seek shelter.

Trump has said the United States has not stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine. However, reports from Western media indicate that some U.S. officials have threatened to restrict intelligence support if Kyiv continues targeting Russian energy infrastructure.

The White House has not publicly acknowledged using Starshield access as leverage over the refinery issue, and the administration has denied ordering the recent technical restrictions. That distinction remains important because there is currently no publicly established evidence proving that Trump personally directed the satellite slowdown.

Ukraine’s Starlink and Starshield access has since been restored to full capacity, according to Ukrainian officials, but the episode exposed how dependent Kyiv remains on American technology even as political relations with Washington deteriorate.

The vulnerability is significant because SpaceX’s satellite network has become one of the technological foundations of Ukraine’s war effort. Tens of thousands of terminals have been used by military units, emergency services, government agencies and civilians since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

The technology helped Ukraine maintain communications during Russian attacks on telecommunications infrastructure and gave small frontline units a level of connectivity that would otherwise have been difficult to sustain. Over time, Ukrainian engineers also adapted satellite terminals to support unmanned systems.

That dependency has occasionally created tension between Kyiv and Musk. SpaceX has previously restricted Starlink use for certain offensive military activities, while Musk has argued that a commercial civilian communications network should not be transformed into a weapon of war.

Starshield was developed partly to resolve that problem by creating a separate government and defense-focused service with greater encryption and military functionality. Because Starshield contracts involve U.S. government agencies, control over some aspects of the system is different from ordinary civilian Starlink services.

The latest disruption therefore raised broader questions about whether Ukraine can safely rely on infrastructure that remains dependent on political decisions in another country. Ukrainian officials have begun discussing alternatives, while European governments are accelerating plans to provide additional secure satellite communications through European systems.

The European Union has said Ukraine could eventually receive access to its Govsatcom secure communications network, while several governments are investing in independent satellite capabilities. Those efforts remain less developed than SpaceX’s system and cannot immediately replace the scale of Starlink.

The strategic dispute over refineries has also exposed a widening difference between Kyiv and Washington over how economic pressure should be applied to Russia. Ukraine sees attacks on oil infrastructure as one of the few tools available to impose direct costs on the Russian economy without confronting Moscow’s larger military head-on.

Russia remains one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of oil and petroleum products. Energy revenue continues to support federal spending despite extensive Western sanctions, and Kyiv argues that every refinery forced offline reduces Moscow’s capacity to generate revenue and supply fuel to its armed forces.

Ukraine has conducted dozens of long range attacks against Russian refining and energy facilities this year. Some strikes temporarily shut processing units and reduced output, although Russia has often repaired damaged infrastructure within weeks.

Reuters has previously reported that attacks on several large refineries forced facilities to suspend portions of their operations. Russia has responded by shifting production, increasing repairs and redirecting supplies from unaffected plants.

Moscow has also intensified attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Russian missiles and drones have damaged power plants, substations, heating systems and natural gas facilities, particularly as colder weather approaches. Kyiv says the attacks are designed to weaken civilian morale and place pressure on the government by disrupting electricity and heating.

Russia says its strikes target infrastructure connected to the Ukrainian military. However, widespread blackouts and damage to civilian utilities have repeatedly affected residential communities across the country.

The competing strikes have made energy infrastructure one of the central battlefields of the war. Ukraine tries to reduce Russian fuel processing and export capacity, while Russia targets Ukraine’s electricity and energy networks in an effort to weaken the country’s economy and military logistics.

Trump’s attempt to establish an energy ceasefire was intended to interrupt that cycle, but the lack of a jointly confirmed agreement weakened the initiative from the beginning. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was willing to reciprocate if Russia stopped its attacks but would not continue a unilateral pause while Ukrainian infrastructure remained under fire.

The renewed Ryazan strike demonstrates that Kyiv has now returned to that position. Ukrainian officials appear determined to continue attacking Russian energy facilities unless Moscow stops striking Ukraine or Washington offers substantial military concessions in exchange for restraint.

That decision could further strain relations with the Trump administration. Washington has been attempting to balance pressure on Russia with domestic concerns over fuel prices and its broader effort to negotiate an end to the war.

Trump has argued that both Moscow and Kyiv must compromise. Zelenskyy, however, has increasingly expressed frustration that some U.S. actions appear to pressure Ukraine more heavily than Russia.

Those tensions have spilled into unusually public exchanges. Zelenskyy has criticized Washington’s willingness to accommodate Russian energy sales, while Trump has accused Ukrainian leadership of prolonging the conflict and has publicly questioned whether Ukraine should hold another presidential election.

Kyiv and European governments have pushed back against suggestions that Ukraine should make major concessions while Russian forces continue occupying Ukrainian territory. European leaders have also emphasized that Russia should not be normalized economically or diplomatically without progress toward ending the war.

The Starshield episode has reinforced European concerns about relying too heavily on U.S. defense infrastructure under changing political conditions. Governments that have supported Ukraine since 2022 are now discussing how to provide more independent intelligence, satellite communications and long-range weapons support.

The military consequences of the satellite disruption appear to have been temporary because full service has reportedly been restored. Politically, however, the episode may have a longer impact by reinforcing doubts in Kyiv about the reliability of U.S. assistance.

For Ukraine, continued access to Western intelligence and satellite communications remains essential. Russian forces possess larger inventories of missiles, aircraft and conventional military equipment, forcing Kyiv to depend heavily on technology, drones, precision strikes and real-time intelligence to compensate for disadvantages in manpower and firepower.

The Ryazan attack also demonstrates that Ukraine retains the capability to reach major targets deep inside Russia despite diplomatic pressure and technical disruptions. The refinery has been hit several times during the war and remains strategically important because of its size and proximity to Moscow.

Regional authorities said schools and kindergartens in parts of the Ryazan region were temporarily closed during the latest wave of drone attacks. Russia’s Defense Ministry also reported intercepting numerous Ukrainian drones across several regions, although independent verification of interception claims is often difficult.

The exact scale of damage at the refinery has not yet been independently established. Russian officials confirmed a fire and said material damage was being assessed, while Ukraine has not publicly released a detailed damage estimate.

That uncertainty is typical of long-range attacks during the war. Both sides often minimize their own losses and exaggerate damage inflicted on the opponent, making satellite imagery, industry sources and later production data important for determining the actual operational impact.

What is already clear is that the brief pause in attacks on energy infrastructure has effectively collapsed. Ukraine has resumed refinery strikes, Russia continues attacking Ukrainian energy facilities and there is no jointly recognized ceasefire governing those targets.

The diplomatic environment is also becoming more complicated. Kyiv continues seeking stronger support from Europe at the same time that its relationship with Washington becomes less predictable. European leaders have publicly reaffirmed support for Ukraine, but replacing American intelligence, air defense and satellite capabilities would be extremely difficult in the short term.

Musk’s comments have added another layer of uncertainty. By stating that Starshield restrictions are determined by U.S. authorities, he placed political attention directly on Washington. The administration’s denial means two conflicting explanations remain in public view, with no definitive account yet establishing who initiated the slowdown.

That unresolved question will matter because satellite access is no longer simply a technical issue. It affects whether Ukrainian forces can operate drones, communicate across the battlefield and respond quickly to Russian attacks.

If Kyiv concludes that access to critical systems can be restricted for political reasons, pressure to develop European or Ukrainian alternatives is likely to accelerate. That process, however, could take years and require significant investment.

The immediate military picture is therefore one of renewed escalation. Ukraine has returned to targeting Russian oil infrastructure, while Russia continues its campaign against Ukrainian energy facilities. Neither side has accepted the informal energy ceasefire as a binding agreement, and the latest attacks suggest there is little prospect of restoring it without a broader diplomatic arrangement.

The next major test will be Washington’s response to the Ryazan strike. If the Trump administration increases pressure on Kyiv or restricts additional military or intelligence support, relations could deteriorate further. If Washington instead focuses on obtaining reciprocal commitments from Moscow, negotiations over energy targets could resume.

For now, Ukraine is signaling that it will not accept a one-sided halt while Russian attacks continue. Zelenskyy has tied any future restraint to tangible security guarantees, including stronger air defenses, while Moscow has promised retaliation and insists Ukrainian refinery strikes have not significantly weakened its energy system.

The combination of renewed refinery attacks, contested satellite restrictions and worsening political friction between Kyiv and Washington illustrates how closely the military and diplomatic dimensions of the war have become intertwined. Decisions about internet access, intelligence sharing and energy markets now directly affect battlefield operations.

The latest developments do not establish that Washington deliberately disrupted Ukraine’s satellite systems, and the U.S. government disputes that interpretation. What they do show is that Ukraine’s reliance on American controlled technology has become a strategic vulnerability at a moment when political relations between the two governments are under increasing strain.

As the Ryazan refinery burns and Ukraine’s satellite access returns to normal, the broader dispute remains unresolved. Kyiv has resumed a campaign it believes is essential to weakening Russia’s war economy, Moscow continues striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure and Washington is attempting to influence both the battlefield and global fuel markets. Unless those competing priorities are reconciled, energy infrastructure is likely to remain one of the war’s most heavily contested fronts.