According to statements from the Russian government, Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, targeting three oil refineries and a petrochemical plant with drone strikes. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said one facility suffered minor damage. The news of renewed attacks comes shortly after reports that Kyiv had, under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, temporarily halted strikes against Russian refineries.
The situation also highlights complications regarding a reported energy truce between Moscow and Kyiv. While Washington has attempted to curb attacks on energy facilities, both sides continue to accuse each other of ongoing strikes.
Moscow Claims Strikes on Three Refineries and a Chemical Complex
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced the renewed attacks on Friday, October 30. He said Ukrainian forces had launched strikes against three oil refineries and a chemical plant.
“There was a period of calm that lasted for some time, but today, attacks on oil refineries have resumed,” Novak stated.
The Russian official claimed one of the facilities sustained minor damage, while Russian air defenses reportedly repelled most of the attacks.
Novak did not provide detailed information on the extent of the damage or the names of all the facilities allegedly targeted. Ukrainian officials have not immediately commented on these specific claims. As a result, the reported strikes have yet to be independently verified.
Strikes Follow Reports of Pressure from Donald Trump
Just one day before Novak’s statement, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Ukrainian military had scaled back its strikes on Russian refineries following pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to the newspaper’s sources, Ukrainian units responsible for long-range attacks were instructed to pause additional refinery missions after completing ongoing operations. This unofficial pause was expected to last at least until the U.S. congressional elections on November 3, with the possibility of being extended further into November.
The claim that Ukraine halted its attacks could not be verified independently. Reuters also noted it could not confirm The Wall Street Journal’s report.
If the attacks reported by Moscow on Friday did occur as described, it could suggest the pause was either incomplete or has ended. It remains unclear whether these were new operations, the continuation of previous missions, or actions that Russian officials are interpreting differently.
Russian Refineries Remain Key Economic Targets
Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have become a significant component of Kyiv’s strategy to weaken the economic base supporting the Russian war effort. Refineries process crude oil into gasoline, diesel, and other products critical for civilian industry, transportation, and logistics.
Damage to these facilities can reduce processing capacities, disrupt fuel supplies, and raise repair costs. Even partial impacts might force specific production units offline, complicating operations for entire plants.
For Russia, refineries are also important for foreign trade. The export of oil products brings revenue and helps maintain Russia’s position in global energy markets.
Ukrainian drones may not just aim for the complete destruction of sites. Disrupting operations repeatedly and forcing Russian companies to invest in repairs and security can have strategic significance.
Novak Announces Major Increase in Diesel Exports
During his Friday remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Novak also discussed Russia’s diesel export plans. He said the country aims to export 510,000 tons of diesel in October.
In November, the export volume could rise to as much as 2.15 million tons, according to Novak’s forecast for the Russian energy sector. He added that plans for the following year would depend on circumstances.
These figures are significant in the context of ongoing Ukrainian attacks. If refineries can restore full operations, Russia may be able to boost fuel production and exports. But repeated damage could complicate these targets.
Energy Truce Remains Disputed
In October, Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had reached an agreement to limit attacks on energy infrastructure. The agreement’s practical implementation, however, has been marked by uncertainty and conflicting statements from both sides.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously noted that Kyiv was willing to respect the limitations, provided Moscow committed to them as well. Ukraine has repeatedly criticized ongoing Russian strikes on its own energy infrastructure.
Russia, on the other hand, accuses Ukraine of continuing attacks on its refineries and other energy sites. On Friday, Russian presidential adviser Yury Ushakov reportedly declared that Kyiv was ignoring Trump’s calls to halt such operations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said the renewed attacks, according to Moscow, are unlikely to jeopardize planned trilateral peace talks. These talks are expected to resume in November in Abu Dhabi.
The situation remains ambiguous. While the United States is pushing for limits on attacks targeting energy infrastructure, Russia and Ukraine continue to trade accusations. A renewed campaign against refineries could further complicate diplomatic efforts to reach a broader agreement.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
