"The order to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries has ended", Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview published by the Financial Times on 15/10.

Immediately following Zelensky's statement, Pavel Malkov, head of Russia's Ryazan province, reported that Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on 15/10, igniting a fire at an oil refinery in the province.

Smoke rises from an oil refinery in Moscow, Russia, after a strike on 20/9. Reuters

Smoke rises from an oil refinery in Moscow, Russia, after a strike on 20/9. Reuters

A warehouse and several vehicles at another enterprise in Ryazan province were also damaged, according to Malkov. Local officials have not reported any casualties from the strike and are assessing the damage.

In the Financial Times interview, Zelensky stated that Ukraine's patience had run out. He expressed anger over Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which left more than 600,000 people without power, despite US President Donald Trump's announcement of an "energy ceasefire".

He also criticized the US for pursuing business deals with Russia, as well as what he perceived as Trump's admiration for his counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

President Zelensky suggested that after Ukraine ceased attacking Russian oil and gas facilities, the US failed to provide early warnings about incoming Russian ballistic missiles.

Meanwhile, Ukraine faced speed limitations on Starlink satellite Internet services, affecting military operations on the front lines and strikes against Russia.

"US defense officials warned us that if Ukraine did not stop striking Russian energy infrastructure, they would suspend intelligence sharing. The US then claimed the issue was due to a technical error. There is no way the Starlink system malfunction was a random incident; it was intentional", Zelensky stated.

When asked if Ukraine was willing to cease attacks on Russian energy infrastructure to improve relations with the White House, Zelensky declared he would only reconsider if the US provided more interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system, emphasizing "this is a minimum condition".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the UK Prime Minister's Office in London on 14/10. AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the UK Prime Minister's Office in London on 14/10. AFP

The Ryazan oil refinery, part of the Rosneft oil and gas group, accounts for nearly 5% of Russia's total refining capacity. The facility has been repeatedly attacked by Ukrainian drones in recent months.

On the same day, Ukraine's Naftogaz oil and gas group reported that Russia attacked the company's gas extraction facility in the central Poltava province, causing a fire and damaging equipment, which halted operations there.

"At the time of the strike, employees were in shelters, so no one was injured. We are assessing the consequences and the extent of the damage", said Serhiy Fedorenko, acting chairman of Naftogaz's management board.

The Russian Ministry of Defense and the Ukrainian military have not commented on these operations.

Last week, Trump announced that Russia had agreed to immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the US and global markets, an additional 500,000 tons in November, and one million tons shortly thereafter, with the potential to provide an additional three million tons in a short period depending on the refinery situation.

Smoke rises from the Trypillya thermal power plant in Kyiv province, Ukraine, after a strike on 14/10. X/AMK Mapping

Smoke rises from the Trypillya thermal power plant in Kyiv province, Ukraine, after a strike on 14/10. X/AMK Mapping

On 11/10, Trump posted on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking each other's energy infrastructure, with the agreement taking immediate effect. Zelensky subsequently accused Russia multiple times of continuing to strike Ukraine's energy infrastructure despite Trump's announcement.

During a press conference on 13/10, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that discussions regarding the US-proposed energy ceasefire were ongoing, but no further details were available. Peskov stressed that Russia prioritizes achieving lasting peace over a ceasefire.

By Nguyen Tien (AFP, Reuters, Financial Times, CNN)