Ukraine has accused the United States of indirectly helping Russia in its ongoing war by allegedly withholding critical intelligence and restricting military communication systems, as President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the resumption of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.
The accusations have further strained relations between Kyiv and Washington, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and a deal to purchase Russian diesel in a bid to ease rising fuel prices.
Ukrainian officials alleged that the US failed to provide timely warnings about incoming Russian missile attacks and restricted access to Starlink-related satellite communication services used by Ukrainian forces. They argued that the alleged disruptions weakened the country’s ability to defend itself against Russian airstrikes.
A senior Ukrainian official accused Washington of helping Moscow, while Zelensky described the situation as unjust and called for honesty from Ukraine’s international partners. Trump, however, denied that his administration had stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
The controversy followed a series of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, which Ukrainian authorities said caused deaths, injuries and widespread power outages. Kyiv also accused Moscow of disregarding the proposed energy ceasefire, which Trump announced on October 11.
In response, Zelensky declared that Ukraine would no longer maintain its pause on strikes against Russian oil refineries, signalling a tougher stance despite pressure from Washington.
“The block on attacking refineries is out. We’re done,” Zelensky told the Financial Times in an interview published on Thursday, October 15.
Ukraine had reportedly suspended attacks on Russian oil facilities for three days in response to Washington’s request. However, Zelensky argued that Russia continued targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure during the pause, making it unfair for Kyiv to remain restrained.
Russian authorities subsequently reported a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil refinery in the Ryazan region, south of Moscow, with regional officials confirming a fire at the facility. The reported strike marked a renewed escalation in attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure.
