Ukraine Resumes Refinery Strikes Amid US Rift

The France 24 liveblog, issued on October 16, 2026, reports that US President Donald Trump criticized renewed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, calling them “a disgrace.” The criticism followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s rejection of Trump’s calls for an “energy ceasefire.” The article’s opening says Zelensky had sought backing from European allies in Brussels earlier that day, on the sidelines of an EU summit. It frames the dispute amid wider efforts by Ukraine to maintain international support as Russia’s war continues. The page’s “Yesterday’s key developments” section lists three related events. Zelensky met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels to rally European support against Russia. Zelensky also urged the United States not to side with Moscow and called for “honesty,” after Kyiv said it had been betrayed by gaps in US intelligence sharing. Separately, Elon Musk suggested that slowdowns in Starlink—used for battlefield communications and frontline logistics—were caused by Trump and the US military. The supplied page capture contains only this introductory account and the brief roundup; it does not include the liveblog’s subsequent updates. A “Page not found” notice appears at the end, indicating that more content may no longer be available. The article credits FRANCE 24, Reuters, AP and AFP. Overall, the available material presents a concise, factual snapshot of tensions over energy infrastructure, US policy and military support for Ukraine, rather than providing a complete account of events or additional reporting that might have appeared in the liveblog.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to strengthen European support as relations with the United States deteriorated over sanctions, attacks on energy infrastructure and restrictions affecting Ukraine’s satellite communications. In Brussels, he met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European leaders ahead of an EU summit, arguing that ending the war requires greater pressure on Russia and more defense assistance for Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron backed providing Ukraine with the means to defend itself, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk publicly assured Ukrainians they were not alone. The dispute sharpened after Zelensky told the Financial Times that Ukraine would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries, saying Russia had not observed a proposed ceasefire on attacks against energy infrastructure. The article reports that US President Donald Trump had demanded restraint and eased sanctions on Russia in exchange for Moscow releasing diesel onto global markets. Zelensky also accused Russia of attacking energy infrastructure in Lutsk and exploiting problems with Starshield to intensify damage to civilian life. The Kremlin, in turn, accused Kyiv of undermining US-led peace efforts and reported a drone strike and fire at a refinery south of Moscow. Ukraine’s frustration has also grown over reduced or slower access to Starshield, a US-government-owned satellite communications system used by its military. Officials said the United States had threatened to end intelligence-sharing if Ukraine continued long-range refinery attacks. Elon Musk denied that SpaceX caused the disruption, saying the US government controls Starshield and decides any usage limits. The article distinguishes Starshield, which supports battlefield communications and military operations, from the civilian Starlink system. Amid intensified Russian bombardments, blackouts and civilian casualties, Ukrainian residents expressed concern that Washington no longer understood the daily consequences of the war.

US President Donald Trump called Ukraine’s renewed attacks on Russian oil refineries a “disgrace,” arguing that they push up global oil prices and harm the world’s energy supply. His comments, made in an interview with Newsmax aired on Oct 15, followed a Ukrainian strike on a Rosneft refinery south-east of Moscow that helps supply the Russian capital. The attack came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was abandoning a ceasefire covering energy sites, which Trump had announced, and criticised Trump’s willingness to make deals with Moscow. Zelensky told the Financial Times that Ukraine’s patience had run out after Russia launched missile and drone attacks on energy infrastructure, including power stations. Those attacks left hundreds of thousands without electricity. Trump’s administration has been trying to mediate a ceasefire to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Trump said Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin hate each other, making an agreement difficult, and said he found Zelensky more difficult to deal with than Putin. The article also reports that Ukraine was facing reduced access to a satellite system it relies on for battlefield communications and drone operations while Trump was pressing Kyiv to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries. The order to reduce usage came from within the White House, according to two US officials and a Western official briefed on the matter. They did not identify who made the decision or who was responsible for carrying it out.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv will resume attacks on Russian oil refineries after Russia continued striking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during a three-day pause requested by Washington. “The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” he told the Financial Times. Zelenskyy said more than 100 civilians had been killed in Russian attacks over the previous week. After his remarks, Russia’s Ryazan governor reported a fire at a Rosneft refinery caused by Ukrainian drone strikes; a Ukrainian official said the facility had been targeted in retaliation for Russian attacks. Separately, Ukraine’s Naftogaz said a Russian strike on a gas production site east of Kyiv forced operations to stop. Zelenskyy accused the United States of weakening its support. He said Ukraine had lost access to US early-warning alerts for incoming ballistic missiles and that reduced Starlink speeds had hindered frontline operations. He alleged US officials had warned that attacks on Russian energy infrastructure could lead to intelligence being blocked, and said the disruption was later described as a technical problem. His office subsequently confirmed Starlink service had been restored, while President Donald Trump denied that Washington had cut off intelligence-sharing. Zelenskyy also criticized US efforts to pursue business deals with Moscow, warning that arrangements such as a possible gas deal could give Russia more resources for its war. He suggested Trump respects leaders who stay in power for decades and rejected the idea that mending relations with Washington was solely his responsibility. He said he might consider halting attacks on Russian energy infrastructure if the United States supplied additional Patriot air-defence interceptors. Despite the growing rift, Zelenskyy emphasized that cooperation with the United States and Europe remains essential to Ukraine.

Ukraine resumed attacks on Russian oil infrastructure after a brief pause in energy-related strikes, escalating tensions with both Moscow and Washington. A Ukrainian drone struck a refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region, about 300 kilometres southeast of Moscow, and caused a fire, according to Russian officials. A senior Ukrainian official confirmed that Ukraine had hit the refinery. The strike followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s accusation that Russia continued bombing Ukrainian energy infrastructure despite US President Donald Trump’s demand that both sides stop such attacks. Zelenskyy said Ukraine had observed the requested truce but was also denied its usual Western intelligence about Russian ballistic missile attacks and faced restrictions on its use of US-made Starlink terminals—resources he described as vital to Ukraine’s military. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said his patience had run out and that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries would resume. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov countered that Ukraine had never stopped attacking refineries, strikes that have harmed Russia. The article notes that claims from both sides could not be independently verified. The dispute threatens to further strain Kyiv’s relationship with Trump, amid concerns that his administration may reduce support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy travelled to Brussels for talks with European Union leaders at a two-day summit and said he would meet NATO chief Mark Rutte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and the prime ministers of Poland, Denmark and Belgium. Separately, Ukrainian emergency services reported that a Russian drone attack lasting more than ten hours killed three people and injured six in the central Ukrainian region of Kirovohrad. The article portrays a renewed cycle of attacks on energy targets alongside uncertainty over US support and efforts by Ukraine to coordinate with European leaders.