Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Resume Strikes on Russian Refineries

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv will resume attacks on Russian oil refineries, ending a brief pause requested by Washington as tensions deepen between Ukraine and the United States over energy strikes, intelligence sharing and military communications.

In an interview with the Financial Times' Alec Russell and Ben Hall in London, Zelensky said Ukraine had suspended attacks on Russian energy facilities for three days in response to U.S. pressure, but would no longer observe the pause.

"The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We're done," he said.

Washington had pushed Kyiv to stop targeting Russian refineries, arguing that a halt to the strikes, alongside a U.S. agreement to purchase Russian diesel, could help lower fuel prices in the United States.

Trump also publicly criticized Kyiv’s decision to resume the attacks. In an interview with Newsmax published Thursday, the U.S. president called Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries “a disgrace,” arguing that they were contributing to higher global energy prices.

Zelensky said Russia continued attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure during Ukraine's pause, including strikes that he said killed more than 100 civilians over the previous week.

Following his remarks, Ryazan regional governor Pavel Malkov said Ukrainian drones caused a fire at a Rosneft refinery on Thursday. A Ukrainian official told the FT that Kyiv had targeted the facility in retaliation for Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Rosneft did not immediately comment.

Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz, meanwhile, said a Russian strike hit one of its gas production facilities east of Kyiv and forced operations there to halt.

Zelensky also accused Washington of restricting intelligence that provided Ukraine with early warnings of incoming ballistic missiles.

He said Ukrainian military officials were warned that U.S. intelligence could be blocked if Kyiv continued refinery attacks, although Washington later described the disruption as technical.

President Donald Trump has denied that the United States cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

Zelensky also said Starlink satellite internet service had been slowed across Ukraine, affecting frontline communications and strikes against Russian military targets.

He rejected explanations that the problems were technical, saying: "It was not a technical problem, it was the will."

Zelensky's office later said Starlink functionality had been restored and speed restrictions removed.

Elon Musk, whose SpaceX developed Starlink, said on X that the military-grade Starshield network was owned and controlled by the U.S. government and that restrictions on its speed or use were decided by the U.S. military and ultimately the president.

Despite his criticism, Zelensky described the United States as an essential strategic partner and stressed that Ukraine would find it extremely difficult to continue fighting Russia without American support.

He said he could consider another halt to strikes on Russian energy facilities if Washington supplied additional Patriot air-defense interceptors.

Zelensky also criticized closer U.S.-Russian business ties, arguing that energy deals could provide Moscow with additional resources while the war continues.

The dispute marks one of the sharpest periods of tension between Kyiv and Washington since Trump returned to office, even as Zelensky continues to stress that Western unity remains crucial to resisting Russia.