President Donald Trump has labeled Ukraine's recent drone strikes on Russian oil refineries a "disgrace" following a Newsmax interview. This criticism comes as President Volodymyr Zelensky resumes energy-sector attacks after accusing the Trump administration of betrayal.
The Ryazan strike and the 5% refining hit
A Ukrainian drone attack recently targeted a major oil refinery in Russia's Ryazan region, sparking a significant fire. This strike marks the first major hit on an energy facility since President Trump announced a sudden energy ceasefire on Sunday. According to the report, the targeted refinery is critical to the Russian economy, accounting for nearly 5 percent of the nation's total oil refining throughput.
The instability extends to southern Russia, where a fuel terminal in Rostov-on-Don has been burning for five days. these strikes represent a shift in Ukrainian strategy after President Zelensky briefly paused energy-sector operations to comply with U.S. requests.
Starlink slowdowns and the loss of U.S. early-warning alerts
President Zelensky has reported that the Ukrainian military is facing a dangerous reduction in technical support from the United States. In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelensky claimed that the cutting off of U.S. intelligence sharing and the weakening of Starlink satellite internet services have jeopardized civilian safety.
The impact on the battlefield is significant, as the slowdown of Elon Musk's Starlink service has reportedly interfered with frontline drone operations and medium-range strikes. As reported by Reuters, two U.S. officials and one Western official stated that the order to limit the Starshield satellite service for the Ukrainian military originated from within the White House.
The controversial U.S. deal to purchase Russian diesel
Diplomatic tensions between Washington and Kyiv have reached a breaking point due to a recent agreement involving Russian fuel. During an interview with Newsmax, Trump argued that these strikes were responsible for increasing global energy costs, supporting a policy move to purrchase hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Russian diesel to lower American fuel prices.
Zelensky has condemned this deal, arguing that providing revenue to Moscow directly funds the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This policy shift has led to a rapid decline in relations, with Trump suggesting that Ukraine needs a new president in response to Zelensky's criticisms.
Russian drone strikes in Odesa and Kharkiv
While Ukraine has struggled with technical limitations, Russia has continued its bombardment of Ukrainian infrastructure. On Thursday, a Russian jet-powered Shahed drone struck a supermarket in the Odesa region, injuring three people and causing partial destruction .
The violence continued into Friday, when a Russian drone strike in the city of Kharkiv killed three people and injured at least five others. These attacks occurred despite the supposed energy ceasefire, as Russian forces continued to target gas infrastructure, power plants,and substations across Ukraine.
Who authorized the Starshield service restrictions?
The specific chain of command behind the decision to throttle Ukrainian communications remains an unresolved question. While Reuters cited officials stating the order came from the White House, the exact identity of the decision-makers has not been publicly confirmed.
Furthermore, the source of the message sent to the Defense Department regarding the SpaceX Starshield service remains unverified. It remains unclear whether the restriction was a direct presidential mandate or a strategic shift implemented by mid-level officials within the administration.
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