The loading terminal at Russia’s Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery caught fire overnight following reports of a Ukrainian drone strike just hours after President Trump announced a deal to supply millions of tons of Russian diesel fuel to the global market.
The incident suggests that kyiv will continue to target Russian energy infrastructure despite pressure from the United States, with the Trump administration hoping that energy costs will fall before November’s midterm elections.
News week contacted the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministries for comment via email on Saturday.
The fire
Overnight, a large fire broke out at the Novoshakhtinsk oil loading terminal in Rostov-on-Don, with images shared on social media showing intense smoke and flames emanating from the facility. The videos have not been independently authenticated by News week.
Independent Russian media ASTRA confirmed that the video showed the Yug Rusi oil loading terminal, which handles production from the nearby Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery.
According to Exilenova+, a Telegram monitoring channel that tracks the Ukrainian conflict, the fire followed a large Ukrainian drone strike on the region.
Russian State News Agency RIA Novostiquoting Rostov-on-Don Governor Yuri Slyusar said more than 100 drones were shot down by air defenses in the region overnight, but did not directly respond to the fire at the oil loading terminal.
On
The video was also shared by UNITED24 Mediaan
“Drones reportedly targeted an oil loading terminal operated by the Novoshakhtinsk Petroleum Products Plant.”
Trump’s deal
President Trump announced Friday that Russia would supply more diesel fuel to the U.S. and global markets following what he called “very fruitful discussions” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a post on his Truth Social website, Trump wrote: “It was agreed that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel fuel to the U.S. and global market, an additional 500,000 tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 tons immediately thereafter.” »
The president said Russia had agreed to provide an additional three million tons of diesel fuel over the long term, adding: “Diesel prices for Americans and, indeed, the world, will FALL IN RECORD NUMBERS AND RAPIDLY!” »
Talk to News week a White House official confirmed that the Treasury Department had issued Russia-related General License 135, allowing diesel fuel into the United States.
However, the deal sparked an angry response from Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky, who said the deal would be used by Moscow to finance “more terrorism.”
Zelensky added: “We are counting on America’s fair support for our defense of life, for our defense of the people in Ukraine, and for the United States to have an equally strong conversation with Russia. A strong conversation, not a weak one.”
European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas also criticized the move, which she said “gives Moscow more revenue to wage war.”
Speaking to the BBC, Tim Armitage, an investment strategist who works for Quilter Cheviot, said the amount of diesel fuel Russia had agreed to release was “relatively small”, adding: “So it won’t make a material difference to drive up prices in the US.” »
Diesel fuel prices rose 70% in the United States following President Trump’s decision to launch military action against Iran in February, according to Reuters. That has increased inflation in the run-up to the midterm elections, with polls showing most Americans do not approve of Trump’s handling of the economy.
Ukraine’s energy campaign
In recent months, Ukraine has launched an intense drone campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure, including oil refineries, export terminals and fuel depots.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in June, production at Russian refineries fell to a 30-year low due to the strikes in August. Only five of Russia’s major refineries escaped damage from Ukrainian drones.
The IEA said the increase in strikes was the result of “the dramatic expansion of Ukraine’s technological and military capabilities”, adding that in the first six months of 2026, a Russian refinery was hit on average every three days.
Strikes at Ukrainian oil facilities have led to fuel shortages in parts of Russia, with long queues to get what is available.
However, the move angered Trump, who in September said Zelensky “must stop eliminating diesel fuel in Russia” because it was “causing a shortage of diesel fuel.”
According to Axios The Trump administration has repeatedly asked Ukraine to stop striking Russian energy facilities, but kyiv has ignored this request. The outlet said Ukraine had offered to stop the attacks in exchange for Russia ending its attacks on Ukrainian power plants, but there was no indication Moscow would agree to this.
Russian strikes
Russia has launched several devastating missile and drone strikes on Ukraine in recent weeks, killing dozens.
On Sunday, Ukrainian authorities said 17 people, including three children, were killed by a Russian attack in the city of Zaporizhzhia.
A series of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, including kyiv, in the early hours of October 7 killed 25 civilians, including five children, according to kyiv.
Ukraine has accused Russia of deliberately striking civilian targets, although Moscow has denied the accusation.
Contact Newsweek’s editor-in-chief for this story: Edward Pearcey.
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