Russia has accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on an oil refinery in the Ryazan region, southeast of Moscow, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv would resume strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. The incident has heightened tensions between Moscow and Kyiv and raised further questions about efforts to establish a ceasefire targeting energy facilities.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday that Ukraine had attempted a large-scale drone attack on the refinery in Ryazan, approximately 180 kilometres southeast of Moscow. According to Russian authorities, debris from the intercepted drones fell within the facility, triggering a fire. Regional Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed the incident and said emergency services were assessing the damage. The refinery is owned by Russian oil major Rosneft and supplies fuel to the Moscow region. Reuters reported that the facility accounts for nearly five per cent of Russia’s total oil-refining capacity.
The attack came shortly after Zelensky declared that Ukraine would no longer observe the temporary pause in strikes on Russian energy facilities. In an interview with the Financial Times, the Ukrainian president said Kyiv had suspended such attacks for three days following a request from the United States. However, he argued that Russia had continued targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during that period.
Zelensky’s announcement followed US President Donald Trump’s declaration of an energy ceasefire over the weekend. The proposal called for Russia and Ukraine to halt attacks on energy facilities, although the terms were not formally confirmed by both sides. Kyiv said it had temporarily refrained from striking Russian refineries in an effort to give the initiative a chance.
Moscow, however, disputed Ukraine’s account of the pause. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities contradicted Washington’s diplomatic efforts and accused Kyiv of undermining attempts to advance peace negotiations. Russian officials also maintained that Ukraine had not fully complied with the proposed truce.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has accused Russia of continuing missile and drone attacks against power stations and other energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have reported disruptions to electricity supplies affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Kyiv maintains that its renewed strikes are a response to Russia’s continued attacks rather than a rejection of diplomatic efforts.
The dispute has also exposed growing tensions between Zelensky and Trump. Washington has urged Ukraine to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, arguing that attacks on fuel production facilities could contribute to higher global energy prices. Trump subsequently criticised Kyiv’s decision to resume the strikes, describing it as a disgrace and arguing that damage to diesel refineries could affect international fuel supplies.
Relations have further deteriorated over disagreements concerning military assistance, intelligence sharing and Ukraine’s access to satellite communications. Zelensky has expressed concern that restrictions on these capabilities could weaken Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russian attacks. The US administration, meanwhile, has continued to push for negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
The latest refinery attack underscores the difficulties facing efforts to secure even a limited ceasefire between the two countries. With both sides accusing each other of violating the proposed pause and Ukraine signalling its intention to continue targeting Russian energy infrastructure, the prospects for a sustained agreement remain uncertain.
As fighting continues, the conflict’s impact on energy infrastructure and international fuel markets remains a significant concern. Further attacks on refineries, power stations and other critical facilities could deepen the humanitarian and economic consequences of the war while complicating diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to an end.
