Ukraine continues strikes on Russian oil refineries despite Trump's warnings
Kyiv is ignoring calls from US President Donald Trump to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, which he blames for rising global fuel prices, while Russia keeps up heavy attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Ukraine reported fresh strikes on Russian oil infrastructure on Thursday, continuing a campaign that President Donald Trump has urged Kyiv to stop, both privately and in public statements. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that an overnight strike hit an oil facility in Russia's Samara region, while a Russian vessel in the Black Sea and a launch and storage site for attack drones in the Oryol region were also targeted.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that Ukraine's strikes on Russian refineries, rather than events in the Middle East, are the main driver behind record-high diesel prices in the US. Rising fuel costs are adding to cost-of-living pressures at a politically awkward time for Trump, whose approval ratings have fallen to a career low ahead of next month's midterm elections.
Energy analysts, however, point to the war in Iran and broader turmoil in global oil markets as the primary causes of the price surge, rather than Ukraine's campaign alone.
According to Ukrainian estimates, the strikes have knocked out more than 45% of Russia's refining capacity in recent months, triggering fuel shortages in some regions and long lines at petrol stations. Russia, normally the world's second-largest diesel exporter, extended its export ban this week through the end of October.
Mykola Bielieskov, an analyst at Ukraine's government-run National Institute for Strategic Studies, said there is no reason for Kyiv to show restraint while Russia continues daily bombardment of Ukrainian cities. Zelenskyy has pushed for a US-brokered energy ceasefire with Moscow, but Vladimir Putin has shown little interest, instead vowing to escalate strikes.
Meanwhile, Russia keeps targeting Ukrainian infrastructure. A drone hit a school in Kyiv on Thursday, though no one was hurt as children were sheltering in the basement, according to mayor Vitali Klitschko. The strike also damaged a major bridge, forcing a suspension of metro and other public transport services. Kyiv has faced near-constant attacks in recent weeks, increasingly resembling conditions in a frontline city.
