World · 2026-10-15 · Afternoon briefing

Russia claims refinery attack after Zelensky ends strike pause

Russia has accused Ukraine of launching a large-scale attack on an oil refinery in Ryazan, south of Moscow. According to Russia's defence ministry, four missiles and dozens of drones were intercepted on Thursday, with falling debris causing a fire. The alleged strike follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s declaration that he would resume attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, ending a pause requested by the US.

Mr. Zelensky told the Financial Times that US officials had threatened to “block intelligence” if the strikes continued. He also criticised a recent agreement between Russia and the US, brokered by President Donald Trump's administration, to release 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel onto the global market. The Ukrainian leader suggested Washington was effectively investing in Russia's war effort.

The friction with Washington comes as the UK pledged to accelerate missile deliveries to Kyiv, a promise made by Prime Minister Andy Burnham during Mr. Zelensky's visit to London. Voicing his frustration with the energy deal, Mr. Zelensky questioned what might come next: "Maybe it will be gas. Definitely it will be gas."

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

Read the sources

• Volodymyr Zelensky openly defies Trump’s ban on Russian oil refinery strikes, Ukraine will resume attacks: ‘We’re done’
• Russia Says Oil Refinery Hit as Zelensky Says Ukraine ‘Done’ With Ceasefire
• Defying Trump, Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Resume Russian Refinery Strikes
• Ukraine strikes Ryazan refinery as Zelenskiy ends three-day pause
• Russia and Ukraine trade strikes as Trump ‘energy ceasefire’ collapses

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