Brief
Ukraine launches drone strike on Ryazan refinery amid U.S. tension
A Ukrainian drone attack set fire to a refinery in Russia's Ryazan region as President Zelensky declared a truce with Moscow over, while relations with the United States grow strained.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Russia's Ryazan region early Thursday, igniting a fire about 180 miles southeast of Moscow, the Los Angeles Times reported.
What happened
The attack occurred hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a brief truce offered by Moscow had ended. Russia’s Defence Ministry and Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed the blaze, and the state‑run Astra news outlet posted a photograph of the fire. A senior Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously, affirmed that Ukraine had hit the refinery.
What the reports add
The Times noted that the strike could further complicate Kyiv’s relationship with President Donald Trump, whose administration has recently pressured both sides to halt attacks on energy infrastructure. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Ukraine had not stopped its refinery strikes, contradicting Kyiv’s claim of adhering to the cease‑fire. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the attacks as a “direct and crude challenge to President Trump.”
What was said
In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelensky said, “We’re done,” indicating that Ukraine would resume attacks on Russian oil facilities. Lavrov, speaking to Russian media, called the strikes a challenge to the U.S. president. Peskov told reporters that Ukraine never halted its refinery attacks.
How it came about
The latest strike follows a months‑long Ukrainian drone campaign that has targeted Russian refineries, as detailed in Felo’s earlier coverage of the drone offensive (Ukraine’s Drone Attacks Hit Russian Refineries). The campaign has damaged a majority of Russia’s major refineries and reduced fuel output, prompting both sides to use the attacks as leverage in diplomatic negotiations.
Key facts
- Ukrainian drones attacked a refinery in Russia's Ryazan region, causing a fire. (latimes.com)
- The strike occurred shortly after President Zelensky said a Moscow‑offered truce was over. (latimes.com)
- Russia's Defence Ministry and Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed the blaze. (latimes.com)
- Zelensky told the Financial Times, “We’re done,” signalling a resumption of attacks. (latimes.com)
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the strikes a direct challenge to President Trump. (latimes.com)
Sources
- [1] latimes.com — originally reported as “Ukraine resumes attacks on Russian oil refineries as U. S. relations teeter”
