Ukraine halted attacks on Russian oil refineries for three days earlier this month in an effort to observe an energy ceasefire unilaterally announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, but Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continued.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists at a closed-door briefing on Oct. 27 that Ukraine suspended strikes on Russian oil refineries for 72 hours after Trump announced on Oct. 11 that an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia had taken effect. Zelensky said Trump's announcement came as a surprise to him but that Kyiv was ready to observe the ceasefire.
During the three-day pause, Ukrainian forces focused on other targets. "I said, 'Let's respond calmly by striking other targets for at least 72 hours. We won't touch the oil refineries.' That didn't help. There was all kinds of rhetoric, and no one thanked us for those three days," Zelensky said.
The president said Ukrainian forces acted "a little more cautiously" during the period but were not ordered to refrain from responding to Russian strikes. He said Ukraine targeted data centers and locations where Russian ballistic missiles are concentrated, including the Ryazan oil refinery in an operation on Oct. 15, and that Ukraine expected its responses to be felt by the Russians.
Russia, meanwhile, continued striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure during the energy truce, Zelensky said. Ukraine had been repeatedly asked to halt strikes on Russian oil facilities, a key source of revenue for Moscow's war effort, and Kyiv made a de-escalation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure a condition.
Zelensky also said Ukraine had not targeted ships carrying diesel fuel from Russia to the U.S. under a separate agreement announced by Trump on Oct. 9.
On Oct. 17, Trump postponed action on a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham that would impose tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods and 100% on imports from countries that are among Russia's five largest oil and gas buyers or help Moscow evade sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license suspending U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel fuel until April 2027. Trump's decision drew criticism from Ukrainian officials, European partners and some members of Congress as Ukraine prepares for its fifth winter since Russia's full-scale invasion began.
Ukraine faces growing uncertainty heading into winter as Russian attacks over the past several years have severely damaged its energy infrastructure, placing the power system under significant strain. Scheduled and emergency power outages and water supply disruptions are affecting communities across Ukraine, including Kyiv, even before central heating is switched on in most regions.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The conflict over energy infrastructure directly affects ordinary Ukrainians, who face blackouts and water cuts as winter approaches, and shapes Russia's ability to fund its war through oil revenue.
- The energy ceasefire effort highlights the fragile and contested nature of diplomatic initiatives between the U.S., Ukraine and Russia, and the difficulty of securing mutual compliance.
- U.S. policy decisions, including the suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel and the postponement of tariff legislation, have drawn criticism from Kyiv and allies, signalling potential shifts in Washington's approach to the war.
Background
The energy infrastructure of both countries has been a target throughout Russia's full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year. Ukraine has struck Russian oil refineries to disrupt the Kremlin's budget revenue, while Russia has systematically attacked Ukrainian power plants and grids. President Trump's Oct. 11 announcement of an energy ceasefire was made without prior public coordination with Kyiv. Ukraine is heading into its fifth winter under war conditions, with a power system already severely damaged by repeated Russian strikes.
Key Perspectives
President Volodymyr Zelensky: Said Ukraine paused attacks on Russian oil refineries for three days to observe the energy truce, but Russia continued striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. He said Kyiv expected its responses to be felt by the Russians, and noted that the pause was not reciprocated or acknowledged.
President Donald Trump: Unilaterally announced an energy ceasefire on Oct. 11, said it had taken effect, and later postponed action on legislation for sanctions on Russian goods and issued a license suspending U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel fuel until April 2027.
Critics of Trump's decisions: Ukrainian officials, European allies and some members of Congress criticised the postponement of tariff legislation and the suspension of diesel sanctions as Ukraine prepares for winter.
What to Watch
- Whether Russia reciprocates any further Ukrainian de-escalation steps, or continues strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
- The U.S. Congress's response to Trump's postponement of the Graham tariff bill, and whether the legislation advances.
- The impact of the U.S. license suspending sanctions on Russian diesel fuel on global diesel markets and on Ukraine's energy security.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedZelensky said, “I said, 'Let's respond calmly by striking other targets for at least 72 hours. We won't touch the oil refineries.' That didn't help. There was all kinds of rhetoric, and no one thanked us for those three days,”Kyiv Independent: “"I said, 'Let's respond calmly by striking other targets for at least 72 hours. We won't touch the oil refineries.' That didn't help. There was all kinds of rhetoric, and no one thanked us for those three days," Zelensky said.”
- SupportedZelensky said Ukrainian forces acted “a little more cautiously” and were not ordered to refrain from responding to Russian strikes.Kyiv Independent: “During those days, Ukrainian forces acted "a little more cautiously," but were not ordered to refrain from responding to Russian strikes, according to Zelensky.”
- SupportedUkraine paused strikes on Russian oil refineries for 72 hours during the energy truce, Zelensky said.Kyiv Independent: “In the first 72 hours of the energy truce, Ukraine suspended strikes on Russian oil refineries while its forces focused on other targets, the president added.”
- SupportedRussian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continued during the truce, according to Zelensky.Kyiv Independent: “Russia, meanwhile, continued striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure during the energy truce, Zelensky said.”
- SupportedZelensky told journalists at a closed-door briefing on Oct. 27 about the pause.Kyiv Independent: “President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists at a closed-door briefing on Oct. 27.”
- SupportedTrump unilaterally announced on Oct. 11 that an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia had taken effect.Kyiv Independent: “U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally announced on Oct. 11 that an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia had taken effect.”
- SupportedUkraine paused strikes in an effort to observe the ceasefire Trump announced, and Kyiv was ready to observe it.Kyiv Independent: “Zelensky said Trump's announcement came as a surprise to him, adding that Kyiv was ready to observe the ceasefire. ... In the first 72 hours of the energy truce, Ukraine suspended strikes on Russian oil refineries”
- Partly supportedZelensky said Ukraine targeted data centers and missile-concentration locations, including the Ryazan oil refinery in an Oct. 15 operation.Kyiv Independent: “"There was the incident involving the Ryazan oil refinery (on Oct. 15). There were other operations as well. We targeted data centers and locations where Russian ballistic missiles are concentrated," the president said.”
- SupportedUkraine had been repeatedly asked to halt strikes on Russian oil facilities, and Kyiv made a de-escalation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure a condition.Kyiv Independent: “Ukraine was repeatedly asked to halt strikes on Russian oil facilities, a key source of revenue for the state budget that helps fund the Kremlin's war against Ukraine. Kyiv, in turn, made a de-escalation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure a condition, Zelensky said.”
- SupportedZelensky said Ukraine had not targeted ships carrying Russian diesel fuel to the U.S. under a separate agreement announced by Trump on Oct. 9.Kyiv Independent: “Zelensky added that Ukraine had not targeted ships carrying diesel fuel from Russia to the U.S. under a new agreement announced by Trump on Oct. 9.”
- SupportedOn Oct. 17, Trump postponed action on Graham's bill, which proposed tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods and 100% on certain imports.Kyiv Independent: “On Oct. 17, Trump also postponed action on a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham that would impose tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods and 100% on imports from countries that are among Russia's five largest oil and gas buyers or help Moscow evade sanctions.”
- SupportedThe U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license suspending U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel fuel until April 2027.Kyiv Independent: “Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license suspending U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel fuel until April 2027.”