A Ukrainian drone attack struck a refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region overnight, causing a fire, according to regional governor Pavel Malkov. The facility, owned by state oil company Rosneft, accounts for nearly 5% of Russia’s refinery throughput and helps supply fuel to Moscow. Authorities said damage was being assessed.
Trump had announced an energy truce on Sunday, saying Russia and Ukraine had agreed to suspend attacks on energy infrastructure. Ukraine initially halted strikes on Russian refineries, but Kyiv accused Moscow of continuing missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian energy facilities. Zelenskiy said the suspension of Ukrainian attacks had ended after Russia’s strikes disrupted power supplies and caused further damage.
The renewed attacks threaten to undermine efforts to limit disruption to energy production and distribution during the wider conflict. Oil refineries and related infrastructure are strategically important because damage can reduce fuel availability, complicate domestic supply and increase uncertainty across regional energy markets.
The dispute has also exposed growing friction between Kyiv and Washington. Zelenskiy criticised what he described as a dangerous reduction in US intelligence support and raised concerns about restrictions affecting military use of Starlink technology. The United States has denied withholding intelligence, while SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk said decisions concerning the military satellite service ultimately rested with the US government.
Russia’s continued attacks have also affected Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Reuters reported that a gas extraction facility in the Poltava region was damaged and operations suspended, while Russian strikes in the Kirovohrad region killed three people and wounded six. The developments underline the continued vulnerability of civilian infrastructure despite diplomatic efforts to limit attacks.
The breakdown of the proposed truce raises questions about whether further negotiations can produce meaningful restrictions on energy strikes. Zelenskiy indicated that Ukraine could consider halting such attacks in exchange for additional US-made Patriot air-defence interceptors.
For energy markets and governments, the immediate concern is that renewed attacks could intensify uncertainty around fuel supplies and prolong the economic consequences of the conflict. Any durable reduction in disruption will depend on whether both sides accept verifiable limits on attacks and whether diplomatic channels can remain effective amid deteriorating relations.
Republished from the existing Aldrenor collection. Aldrenor editorial archive.
