Defiant Zelenskyy Resumes Russian Refinery Drone Strikes

A defiant President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Financial Times on Thursday morning that Ukrainian forces will resume attacks on Russian refineries. The move certainly seems more political than anything else. Such attacks have been described as one of the drivers behind the global refining crisis, which has collided with Strait of Hormuz disruptions.

“The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” Zelenskyy told the FT. He said Kiev had suspended energy strikes for three days at the Trump administration’s request.

Even before that, the Trump administration had requested many times that Kiev stop bombing Russian refineries, but Ukraine remained mostly defiant and ramped up those attacks leading up to the US midterm elections. One can only wonder whether the escalation was politically motivated, worsening the diesel crisis and translating into consumer pain at US pumps.

Zelenskyy’s new narrative is that the resumption of drone attacks on Russian refineries is a response to what he described as a “dangerous” cutoff of US intelligence sharing and the degradation of Starlink service.

Trump has denied cutting off intelligence sharing. Elon Musk said the US government controls Starshield’s speed and usage limits, the military satellite network built on Starlink technology. Zelenskyy’s office said Thursday that it had lifted the speed restrictions.

A growing rift is apparent between Zelenskyy and the Trump administration, as the Ukrainian president went on a media roadshow this week to push the narrative that he feels “betrayed” by Trump. Yet this should be seen as theatrics, a performative stunt by the former comedian who knows how to put on a good act before the US midterms. 

Zelensky tells Piers Morgan he feels ‘BETRAYED’ BY TRUMP: ‘really YES, really, between us’ https://t.co/InYEjF5LLa

— RT (@RT_com) October 14, 2026

Last week, Trump said it was “time to get a new leader” after Zelenskyy ignored pleas to stop strikes on Russian refineries, one of the reasons why US diesel prices recently topped a national average of $6.50 a gallon.

Musk has openly agreed, saying on X, “I agree, time for Ukraine to get a new leader.”

@zerohedge I agree, time for Ukraine to get a new leader

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 11, 2026

The breakdown in relations comes ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter. The International Energy Agency warned yesterday that the “gasoil market balance will remain tight well into 2027.”

Diesel prices in the US are back at their highs despite Trump’s diesel deal with Moscow to add more barrels to the global market.

And now, the West heads into winter with a refined-products shock…