Ukrainian Drones Set Ryazan Refinery on Fire as Zelensky Resumes Strikes

A Ukrainian drone attack overnight into Thursday, 15 October, caused a fire at an oil refinery in Russia's Ryazan region. The plant belongs to the state-controlled oil company Rosneft. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country is resuming attacks on Russian energy infrastructure because Moscow keeps hitting Ukraine's power grid.

Pavel Malkov, governor of the Ryazan region, wrote on Telegram that a large drone attack on the region had ignited a fire at the refinery. He said the material damage was being assessed and emergency services were working at the scene.

Zelensky's statement

In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelensky said Ukraine had paused attacks on Russian refineries for three days to comply with U.S. President Donald Trump's surprise announcement of an "energy ceasefire." According to him, Moscow nevertheless continued to strike the Ukrainian power grid and fuel depots during that time. "The block is out. We're done," Zelensky said.

Asked whether Ukraine would stop energy strikes to repair relations with the White House, he replied that he could agree only if Ukraine received more U.S.-made Patriot air defense interceptors in return. He called this the "minimum" that would be acceptable.

The refinery's role

The Ryazan refinery supplies fuel to Moscow and accounts for 5% of Russia's total crude refining capacity. It had already suspended operations after drone attacks in May, July and September.

On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak claimed Ukrainian forces had hit refineries in the Saratov and Ryazan regions. Ukrainian officials dismissed those claims as false at the time.

Overnight attacks

Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted 166 Ukrainian drones overnight. Ukraine's air force said the country was attacked by 580 Russian drones, of which 536 were shot down.

In central Ukraine's Kirovohrad region, an attack on critical infrastructure, transport enterprises, logistics facilities and residential homes killed three people and wounded six, the local governor said.