Ukraine resumes refinery strikes after fire at Ryazan
A fire broke out at Russia's Ryazan oil refinery overnight on Oct. 15, 2026, after what Moscow described as a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack.
Russia's defence ministry said Kyiv had attempted the attack on the refinery, about 180 kilometres south of Moscow, and that falling drone debris started the fire. The regional governor of Ryazan also said a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at the site, according to Reuters.
Ukraine said on Oct. 15 it would resume attacks on Russian energy targets because Moscow had not upheld its end of the Trump-brokered proposed energy-ceasefire deal, according to CNBC. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that Kyiv was 'done' with an energy ceasefire and that strikes on Russian refineries would resume, according to Al Jazeera.
U.S. President Donald Trump had unilaterally announced an 'energy ceasefire' on the Sunday before Oct. 15. Ukraine said it suspended attacks on Russian energy sites for several days after that announcement.
Zelenskyy said he would be willing to pause strikes on Russian energy sites again only if the United States supplied Ukraine with Patriot interceptors, a type of air-defence missile used to shoot down incoming missiles and drones. The U.S. had pressured Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian refineries, in connection with a deal to purchase 1.8 million tonnes of diesel from Russia.
The dispute over energy strikes has unfolded alongside other tensions. Trump denied that the U.S. had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine. On the Saturday before Oct. 15, he called for Zelenskyy to be replaced as Ukraine's leader. On Oct. 14, Elon Musk said only the U.S. military and Trump had the authority to limit Starshield usage and speed for clients. Starshield is a satellite communications service operated by Musk's company SpaceX for government users.
Zelenskyy was due to meet European leaders in Brussels on Oct. 15 to push for tougher sanctions on Moscow, a term for economic penalties intended to pressure a government. The EU has pledged $50 billion in support for Ukraine for next year, while Kyiv plans to spend $175 billion on its defences next year.
