Ukraine to restart strikes on Russian oil refineries, Zelensky says

Ukraine is set to resume targeting Russian oil refineries after suspending its deep-strike campaign at Washington's request. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed this in an interview with the Financial Times, published on October 15. During the three-day pause, Russia continued to bomb Ukraine's energy infrastructure, while Kyiv lost crucial US missile warnings and experienced a slowdown in its Starlink service.

Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukraine would only resume energy strikes in exchange for additional US air defense interceptors. The Ukrainian deep-strike campaign targets the Russian oil industry, which not only fuels Russia's war effort but also generates export revenue that sustains the conflict. Striking the refineries that convert Russian crude into fuel represents one of the few levers Kyiv has to influence Moscow's war income.

Despite US President Donald Trump's allegations that the strikes contribute to higher US fuel prices, which are primarily attributed to the Iran war, Washington has threatened to withhold intelligence and, according to reports, weapons unless Kyiv suspends the strikes. Zelenskyy explained that he halted the refinery strikes for three days to comply with US demands; however, Russia persisted in attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties.

During the pause, Ukraine received no US warnings of ballistic missile launches, and the Starlink service slowed down across the country, hampering front-line operations and mid-range strikes on Russian military targets. Russia took advantage of the pause to launch 39 ballistic missiles and over 120 drones at Ukraine's grid overnight into October 14, leaving at least 600,000 people without power.

Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine maintained the ceasefire on its side and expressed his belief that Washington was aware of the consequences. The deep-strike campaign on Russian energy could be resumed only if Ukraine receives more US interceptors for its Patriot systems. Zelenskyy cautioned that a halt might invite more US-Russia deals that serve Russia's war machine, and he anticipated the next pause to involve gas.