Fire hits Russian refinery after Ukrainian drone attack, Moscow says, as Zelenskyy ends pause

A fire broke out at an oil refinery in Russia's Ryazan region early on Thursday after a Ukrainian drone attack, according to Russia's Defence Ministry and regional officials. In a statement quoted by Al Jazeera, the ministry said the "fire broke out after drone debris fell onto the refinery site." NPR places the refinery about 300 kilometres (180 miles) southeast of Moscow. Al Jazeera says it is about 180 kilometres (110 miles) south of the capital.

A senior Ukrainian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Ukraine hit the refinery, according to NPR. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include on-record confirmation from Ukraine's government or military, or independent verification of the damage or any casualties. According to The Guardian, regional officials said 69 drones and four Flamingo cruise missiles targeted the site.

Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that strikes on Russian refineries would resume. "The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done," The Guardian quoted him as saying.

Trump had announced an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine. NPR and Al Jazeera date the announcement to Sunday. The Guardian says it came last week and quotes his TruthSocial post: "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" Neither Russia nor Ukraine publicly confirmed agreeing to it. Ukraine said it paused strikes on Russian energy sites for several days. Russia kept striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

Overnight, a Russian drone attack on Ukraine's central Kirovohrad region killed three people and injured six, according to Ukraine's Emergency Services, as cited by NPR. Zelenskyy said on X that Russia launched more than 850 drones at Ukraine. According to NPR, Ukraine's Air Force said it stopped 536 drones and recorded impacts at 31 locations. The reports do not include independent confirmation of the total.

Tensions between Kyiv and Washington have also risen. Trump has called for Zelenskyy to be replaced. In an interview with Piers Morgan, Zelenskyy said he felt betrayed by Trump. "It’s a pity that we are losing, we are losing a strong partner," The Guardian quoted him as saying. The US has also reached a deal to buy Russian diesel; Al Jazeera reports it covers 1.8 million tonnes.

What is disputed

The reports differ on the refinery's distance from Moscow, and on when the Piers Morgan interview and Elon Musk's posts on Starlink limits took place.

What each side says

• Zelenskyy says Russia deliberately escalated after receiving sanctions relief, and that Ukraine's defences are being "artificially restricted" through Starlink/Starshield limits. Kyiv officials say Ukraine received no US warnings of Russian missile strikes for several days.
• Trump says both sides agreed to the ceasefire, that Ukraine's refinery strikes are raising global diesel prices, and that the US has not stopped sharing intelligence.
• Russia's Defence Ministry says its air defences downed 166 Ukrainian drones overnight.
• Elon Musk says the US government or military, not SpaceX, controls the service limits. He wrote on X: "Time for Zelensky to go."

Analysis

The resumption of refinery strikes signals that the energy ceasefire Trump announced is no longer being observed by Ukraine, and the reports describe no confirmation that either side formally accepted it. Several questions remain open: whether US intelligence sharing with Ukraine changed, who ordered the Starlink/Starshield limits and why, and the full terms of the US-Russia diesel deal. Depending on how Washington responds, scenarios range from renewed talks on a new energy pause, which Zelenskyy has linked to Patriot interceptor deliveries according to Al Jazeera, to further strain in US-Ukraine relations. European support may also carry greater weight.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.