Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian oil refineries, ending a two-day pause under a U.S.-backed energy ceasefire, as fuel prices stay elevated.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the decision in an interview with the Financial Times published Thursday. “The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” he told the newspaper.
Kyiv Sets Its Price for Another Pause
Zelenskyy said he would agree to pause energy strikes again only if Ukraine received more U.S.-made Patriot interceptors, which are used to shoot down ballistic missiles. He described this as the “minimum” requirement. Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX Corp. (NYSE:RTX), manufactures the Patriot system.
He said Ukraine lost U.S. early-warning alerts for incoming missiles. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian military officials were told by their U.S. counterparts that Washington could cut off intelligence sharing unless Kyiv stopped attacking Russian energy facilities.
Starlink Slowdown Fuels Suspicion
Zelenskyy said Starlink also slowed nationwide, hampering frontline operations. Kyiv was told it was a glitch. “It was not a technical problem, it was the will,” he said.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) capped its military-grade Starlink service in Ukraine at 100 mph early Wednesday. Presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov wrote on Telegram that the cap disrupted missions without warning. He said it “cannot be a coincidence.”
How the Ceasefire Unraveled
President Donald Trump announced the energy ceasefire, then a diesel supply deal with Russia, last Friday. On Saturday, he called for Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy.
The war is in its fifth year, with several failed truce attempts. This conflict, along with the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which began in February, has sent fuel prices soaring.
Diesel averaged $6.3173 a gallon as of Wednesday, up from $3.6554 a year ago, AAA data show. The record is $6.5276, set Sept. 22.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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