‘We’re done’: Zelensky says Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian oil refineries

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said kyiv would resume strikes against Russian oil refineries after Washington pressured Ukraine to stop its attacks, warning that the United States had put Ukrainian lives at risk by restricting access to Starlink satellite intelligence and communications.

“The blockade (on refinery attacks) is lifted. It’s over,” Zelensky told the Financial Times in an interview in London.

Zelensky said Ukrainian military officials had been warned by their U.S. counterparts that Washington would restrict intelligence sharing if kyiv continued to strike Russian energy facilities.

The comments mark a further deterioration in relations between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, who has pushed Ukraine to stop its attacks on Russian oil infrastructure as Washington seeks to lower fuel prices.

Last week, Trump announced a deal allowing Russia to supply diesel to the U.S. and global markets, drawing criticism from U.S. lawmakers and their European allies.

Zelensky described the agreement as a “simple victory” for the Kremlin, in an interview given Wednesday to the British television channel Piers Morgan.

“It’s a shame that we are losing a strong partner,” Zelensky said.

He also accused Trump of siding with Russia in the war, arguing that Washington should remain neutral rather than favoring Moscow.

“This is our country, our body, our home, our children,” Zelensky said. “That’s why it’s painful when Trump chooses a side.”

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“If you’re in the middle, you have to stay in the middle. Not on the bad side,” he added. “That’s not the right side of the story.”

Starlink restrictions raise alarm in Kyiv

The dispute intensified after Ukraine reported restrictions on Starlink military services, which Ukrainian forces rely on for battlefield communications and drone operations.

Zelensky warned that the restrictions could lead to significant losses as Russia stepped up attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure.

“It’s a big mistake,” he said. “This decision will cause a lot of loss of life… People will die. »

He urged Elon Musk, whose SpaceX operates Starlink, to restore service, saying he hoped the disruption was the result of a technical problem.

Musk said Wednesday that Starshield, the military-grade satellite system, is owned and controlled by the U.S. government, which determines restrictions on its use.

He added that Starlink is a commercial service intended for civilian and defensive purposes and should not be used for offensive military operations.

The restrictions announced by Starlink come amid concerns that a reduction in US intelligence sharing could weaken Ukraine’s ability to detect Russian missile attacks and protect its cities.

Ukrainian officials told CNN that the loss of intelligence could give Russian forces an advantage on the battlefield, while a European official questioned Washington’s explanation that weather conditions caused gaps in missile warning information.

For two consecutive nights, the air raid warnings that normally give kyiv residents precious time to seek shelter came only after Russian ballistic missiles were approaching or already striking the Ukrainian capital.

On Monday and Tuesday, October 12 and 13, Russia launched successive ballistic missile attacks, hitting civilian infrastructure and a major power plant. Ukraine received no advance warning from its Western partners, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The Trump administration has previously warned that it could suspend intelligence sharing and halt European purchases of U.S. weapons for Ukraine if kyiv refuses to halt major strikes against Russian energy infrastructure.

Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

The dispute comes as Russian forces continue attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. Zelensky said the Russian strikes had left more than 600,000 people without power.

Moscow has also stepped up its air attacks as advances on the battlefield remain limited, with both sides targeting energy infrastructure.

Zelensky sought to shore up European support amid uncertainty over Washington’s commitment. During his visit to London on Wednesday, he met British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and King Charles III.