Russia's Defense Ministry on Thursday accused Ukraine of carrying out a large-scale attack on an oil refinery in Ryazan, about 180 kilometers south of Moscow. According to the ministry, a fire broke out after drone debris fell on the refinery grounds.
The accusation came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that Kyiv had "ended" the energy ceasefire that US President Donald Trump unilaterally announced late last week, declaring that strikes on Russian refineries would resume.
Zelenskyy also accused Washington of weakening Ukraine's position on the battlefield by reportedly withdrawing the sharing of key intelligence. President Trump has denied that the United States stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
On Sunday, Trump unilaterally announced an "energy ceasefire" that was never publicly confirmed, while Moscow continued striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukraine said it paused attacks on Russian energy facilities for several days after Trump's announcement.
According to analysts, the United States is pressing Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian refineries, arguing that a pause in attacks along with an agreement to buy 1.8 million tonnes of diesel from Russia would help cool soaring fuel prices in the US.
"Politically, this is not simple [in the US], because everyone would want to ask why it is this way when some people are surviving, fighting, sacrificing — while you are doing business with those carrying out such aggression," Zelenskyy told the Financial Times.
The Ukrainian leader also accused SpaceX of restricting Ukraine's access to its satellite internet service, making Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian attacks. Ukraine's armed forces use SpaceX's military-grade Starshield system for offensive and defensive operations.
In a post on X late Wednesday, SpaceX owner Elon Musk said only the US military and Trump have the authority to restrict Starshield's use and speed for customers. In a separate post, he called on Zelenskyy to "leave" his position as Ukraine's leader.
"And so the slaughter continues," Musk wrote in another post on X. "It's time Zelensky left."
Ukraine relies heavily on Western military aid in its war against Russia, especially from the United States and Germany. However, relations between Kyiv and Washington have been strained in recent weeks, after Trump on Saturday called for Zelenskyy's replacement.
Amid that tension, Zelenskyy said he was ready to pause attacks on Russian energy facilities once again, but only on condition that the United States provide Ukraine with crucial Patriot interceptor systems.
The Ukrainian leader is expected to meet European leaders in Brussels on Thursday, as he pushes for tougher sanctions on Moscow and faster support from the European Union.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has called on EU leaders to "step up" efforts to ensure Ukraine wins the war against Russia.
The EU has pledged $50 billion in support for Ukraine next year. However, that figure falls far short of the $175 billion Kyiv expects to spend on defense next year.
