Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries despite US pressure
Kremlin officials say Kyiv is ignoring Washington's wishes days before the US midterm elections.
Key facts
Story- Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries despite pressure from Donald Trump's administration.
- Russian state media said Ukrainian long-range drones hit the Kstovo refinery in Nizhny Novgorod overnight.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the strikes respond to ongoing Russian attacks.
Ukraine has restarted strikes on Russian oil refineries, going against pressure from the United States to hold off ahead of the midterm elections. A ceasefire in the occupied town of Oleshky is due to expire at the close of Sunday.
Russian state media reported that Ukrainian long-range drones caused a fire at the Kstovo refinery in Nizhny Novgorod region overnight. The attack came shortly after a major strike on another large refinery in Samara region, which is owned by the Russian state energy company Rosneft.
Kremlin officials said Kyiv is "simply ignoring" Washington's wishes. Russia says Ukraine is also ignoring US efforts to negotiate a peace deal while the strikes continue.
The attacks are meant to disrupt Russian fuel supplies and cut into the money Moscow earns from energy sales. Oil revenue is a key source of funding for Russia's war effort.
Zelenskyy has said the strikes are a response to continuing Russian attacks on Ukraine. He has not agreed to a temporary halt in the attacks, which the US had proposed.
It is not yet clear whether the Oleshky ceasefire will be extended once it expires. Neither side has said whether further refinery strikes are planned in the coming days.
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