Ukraine resumed drone strikes on Russian oil refineries in the Samara region on Friday, despite pressure from the United States to halt such operations ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. The overnight attacks targeted three oil refineries and a gas-chemical complex, with at least one refinery sustaining minor damage, according to Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
The strikes mark a resumption of Ukraine’s campaign against Russian fuel infrastructure following a brief pause that began in mid-October. U.S. President Donald Trump had called for an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, aiming to stabilize global diesel prices which have surged amid the ongoing conflict, particularly after the outbreak of war involving Iran. Trump’s attempt to mediate included lifting sanctions on Russian diesel exports and allowing increased fuel shipments to global markets.
A Ukrainian defense company confirmed that drones struck the Novokuibyshevsk refinery, a major facility owned by Russia’s Rosneft, responsible for supplying various petroleum products including fuel for the Russian military. While Ukrainian officials have not publicly commented on the latest strike, video footage shared on social media platforms showed smoke rising from the refinery grounds. The governor of the Samara region acknowledged the drone attack but described it as targeting “civilian infrastructure” without specifying the refinery or extent of damage.
Russian officials accused Ukraine of disregarding direct pleas from President Trump to cease attacks on energy infrastructure. Yuri Ushakov, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, stated that Kyiv was “simply ignoring” the U.S. request and suggested that continued European support emboldened Ukraine’s actions. Russian defense authorities reported shooting down over 1,000 Ukrainian drones during overnight attacks on multiple regions, while Ukraine reported ballistic missile and drone strikes on its own territory, causing widespread power outages in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The Kremlin maintains that the Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries contradict U.S. peace efforts and emphasized that the scope of the proposed energy ceasefire was never formally agreed upon. A Kremlin spokesperson indicated that the latest attacks do not jeopardize ongoing trilateral peace negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed frustration over the situation. He criticized Trump for withholding intelligence support and the disruption of the Starlink satellite internet service vital for Ukrainian military operations, stating that the pause on refinery strikes had ended due to perceived Russian noncompliance with the tentative truce.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine’s occupied frontline city of Oleshky, a U.S.-brokered ceasefire facilitated the evacuation of stranded residents and the distribution of humanitarian aid. Ukrainian authorities continue to report significant challenges from Russian strikes, including a recent drone attack on a train station that resulted in casualties and large-scale power outages.
The resumption of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure highlights the fragile and complex nature of ceasefire efforts and reflects ongoing tensions in the broader conflict as diplomacy and military actions continue to unfold ahead of critical political developments in the United States.