Russia says Ukraine launched a major drone and missile attack on an oil refinery south of Moscow on Thursday, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that strikes on Russian energy infrastructure—paused for three days at Washington’s request—would resume. Russia’s defense ministry claimed four missiles and dozens of drones were intercepted near the refinery in Ryazan, though falling debris still sparked a fire. President Vladimir Putin also accused Ukraine of targeting refineries a day earlier, a claim Kyiv denies.
Zelensky told the Financial Times he halted strikes while Russia kept bombarding Ukrainian energy sites, saying bluntly, “We’re done.” He also accused the United States of withholding intelligence on Russian attacks and deliberately limiting Starlink satellite internet—used heavily by Ukraine’s military—to pressure Kyiv into a full halt, after Washington struck a deal to import Russian diesel. Ukrainian defense sources told the BBC some Starlink functions have since been restored, though it’s unclear if all restrictions are lifted.
Separately, seven crew members are missing after a drone strike set a chemical tanker ablaze off Romania’s coast; Moscow said it had hit two cargo vessels carrying military supplies bound for Ukraine’s Odesa port.
European leaders have voiced support for Kyiv. Italy’s defense minister warned that cutting U.S. intelligence-sharing would be a “complete mistake,” potentially emboldening Putin. Zelensky met NATO chief Mark Rutte in Brussels as a two-day summit of European leaders opened Thursday.
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Source: Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking oil refinery after Zelensky says strikes to resume (feeds.bbci.co.uk).
Image: michaelrighi, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).