Zelensky Signals Renewed Strikes on Russian Oil Facilities Amid Tensions With Washington
Goldlaner.com – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Kyiv intends to restart attacks on Russian oil refineries, escalating a dispute with US President Donald Trump over energy policy, military intelligence and satellite connectivity.
In an interview in London, Zelensky said the restriction on targeting Russian refinery infrastructure had ended.
“The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” Zelensky said.
His remarks reflect increasingly public strain between Kyiv and Washington. Trump announced a deal last week involving purchases of Russian diesel, presenting it as part of an effort to lower US energy costs before the midterm elections. The arrangement drew criticism from both political parties in the United States and angered European partners, who see Russian energy revenue as closely tied to Moscow’s ability to sustain its war.
Energy Infrastructure at the Center of the Dispute
Trump has pressed Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian refineries while seeking to reduce fuel prices. Zelensky, however, has argued that allowing Russia’s energy sector to operate without pressure would hand the Kremlin an important advantage.
Ukraine and Russia have both increased aerial attacks on each other’s energy systems in recent weeks, even as major shifts along the frontline have remained limited. Refineries, fuel storage sites and related infrastructure have become strategically significant because they support military logistics while also affecting domestic energy supplies and export income.
Russian forces launched new attacks on Ukraine on Monday, only hours after Trump said an “energy ceasefire” was in effect. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv had publicly confirmed such an agreement.
Zelensky previously expressed frustration with Trump’s diesel arrangement during an interview with Piers Morgan. Asked whether he felt betrayed by the Trump administration, he answered simply: “Yes.” He described the fuel agreement as a “simple victory” for the Kremlin.
“It’s a pity that we are losing a strong partner,” Zelensky said during “Piers Morgan Uncensored.”
He also warned that neutrality cannot mean accepting decisions that favor Russia.
“This is our country, our body, our home, our children… That’s why it’s painful when Trump chooses one side.”
“If you’re in the middle, you have to stay in the middle. Not on the wrong side,” Zelensky said. “This is not the right side of history.”
Zelensky added that Russia wants Trump to appear weak and said Moscow does not care about US elections.
Intelligence Concerns Raise Alarm in Kyiv
The disagreement has expanded beyond refinery strikes. Zelensky described what he called a “dangerous” reduction in US intelligence sharing, saying Ukrainian military officials had been told that continuing energy attacks could result in blocked intelligence access.
“If you will not stop [the energy strikes], we will block intelligence,” Zelensky said US counterparts told Ukrainian officials.
US intelligence is considered crucial to Ukraine’s defense against Russian ballistic missile attacks. Information about launcher positions, expected strike routes and likely timing can help Ukraine prepare air defenses, protect military assets and warn civilians in threatened areas.
Trump administration officials, including Trump himself, said intelligence cooperation was continuing. Yet Ukrainian officials raised concerns after a lack of missile warnings. When Kyiv sought clarification, US officials cited weather conditions. Ukrainian and European officials questioned whether that explanation accounted for the missing alerts.
“America says it was a failure,” a European official said. “But it can’t be the truth.”
A Ukrainian official warned that any intelligence shortfall could create an opening for Russian forces at a sensitive stage of the conflict.
“This will give Russians a real leverage on a frontline at the time when we effectively stopped their advances, and de-occupy the territories,” the Ukrainian official said.
Starshield Restrictions Add to Military Pressure
Ukraine has also said restrictions affecting Starshield, the military-focused version of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system, have disrupted important operations. Ukrainian officials said they were not expecting the limits on the service.
Reliable satellite connectivity is particularly important in a war where communications can be damaged by missile strikes, electronic warfare and attacks on conventional infrastructure. Disruptions can affect coordination among units, the sharing of battlefield information and the ability to maintain contact in contested areas.
Zelensky said Russian forces were attempting to exploit the Starshield disruption with intensified strikes. The issue has fueled concern in Kyiv and among European allies because Ukraine’s battlefield resilience depends not only on weapons deliveries but also on intelligence, communications and access to systems that support air defense.
The dispute highlights the difficult balance facing Ukraine as it tries to protect its territory while maintaining support from its most important military partners. Zelensky’s decision to publicly signal resumed refinery strikes suggests Kyiv believes the strategic cost of restraint has become too high.
For Ukraine, the question is not limited to individual refinery attacks. It concerns whether Russia can continue financing and supplying its war effort while Kyiv faces constraints on the tools used to defend itself. For Washington and European capitals, the conflict over fuel, intelligence and satellite access is becoming a broader test of how closely their policies align with Ukraine’s wartime needs.
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