Russian official: Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries

Ukraine targeted three oil refineries in Russia on Friday after a several-day hiatus from such attacks, according to Russian energy official Alexander Novak.

Kyiv did not immediately confirm or deny the strikes.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressuring Kyiv for weeks to halt these attacks, holding it responsible for rising diesel prices.

Analysts have linked the surge in fuel prices to the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in February.

Novak told Russian state television, “We saw a pause for some time. Today, attacks on refineries resumed.”

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister for Energy added, “An attack occurred overnight on Russian oil processing facilities… specifically targeting three oil refineries and one gas and chemical complex.”

Videos published by Russian channels on Telegram showed smoke rising from an oil refinery in the Samara region following an overnight drone strike.

It was not immediately clear whether Kyiv was adhering to a halt on attacks.

Earlier in October, Trump reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease sanctions on Moscow in exchange for Russia supplying diesel fuel to global markets.

Trump later unexpectedly announced an “energy truce” between Russia and Ukraine, a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he was unaware of.

Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure throughout the ongoing war, which has lasted more than four years.