80% of Ukrainians back strikes on Russian refineries even if US cuts support, poll shows
Some 80% of respondents back the continued strikes, even if Washington restricts intelligence sharing or Starlink operations. Only 11% said Ukraine should pause the attacks, despite Russia's ongoing attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid, according to the survey.
Eighty percent of Ukrainians support launching strikes against Russian refineries, even if the United States threatens to reduce or eliminate its assistance, according to a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) poll published on October 28. Eleven percent of respondents suggested Ukraine should halt the assaults, despite Russia's continuous assaults on Ukraine's energy grid and other civilian targets.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has advised Kyiv to cease targeting Russian refineries, a key revenue source for Moscow's federal budget that aids its war against Ukraine. With Washington intensifying pressure, Ukraine reported a brief respite in U.S. intelligence sharing on incoming Russian ballistic missiles, restrictions on Starlink operations, and delays in Patriot air defense missile deliveries.
The U.S. administration has denied ordering any restrictions to exert pressure on Kyiv. Trump unilaterally declared a cease-fire on energy between Ukraine and Russia on October 11. Kyiv then temporarily halted strikes against Russian refineries for three days, as President Volodymyr Zelensky reported. Russia has persisted in attacking Ukrainian energy installations, raising concerns about potential power and heating shortages as winter sets in.
The KIIS poll indicates that 63% of Ukrainians are prepared to endure the war as long as necessary, a figure that has remained relatively steady since summer. Additionally, 76% of respondents backed continued military opposition to Russia, even if Moscow's winter attacks lead to disruptions in electricity, heat, and sewage. The survey was carried out via telephone interviews with 828 respondents residing in government-controlled areas between October 16 and 25.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
