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Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Resume Russian Refinery Strikes, Defying Trump

8:27 AM ETConfirmed

World Desk

In Short: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries, defying a ceasefire declared by US President Donald Trump over the weekend.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries, defying a ceasefire declared by US President Donald Trump over the weekend. Zelenskyy said Kyiv was “done” with the energy ceasefire, which neither Russia nor Ukraine had agreed to.

According to Al Jazeera, Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that the politically charged decision in America would be difficult to navigate, as it would raise questions about business dealings with Russia during the ongoing conflict. He emphasized that Ukraine was still facing significant aggression from Russia, with more than 850 Shahed drones attacking Ukrainian territory.

Zelenskyy also noted that Russia had launched aerial attacks on 15 Ukrainian regions, and that Ukrainian forces had carried out overnight strikes against targets in Russia, including an oil refinery in Yaroslavl and a military airfield in the Rostov region. The Ukrainian president highlighted that the strikes were part of a broader counteroffensive, which he claimed had recaptured roughly 140 square kilometers in eastern Donbas.

Russian officials accused Ukraine of targeting an oil refinery in the Ryazan region, about 180 kilometers south of Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 450 drones had been destroyed en route to the Russian capital, and that the attack had damaged the Moscow Oil Refinery and a residential building.

The strikes come amid an intensification of attacks on shopping centers in Ukraine, and a Russian drone hit a civilian ship in the Black Sea, killing the captain. Zelenskyy’s announcement follows a meeting with US envoys Witkoff and Kushner in Kyiv, who had just returned from Moscow talks with Putin.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the strike as a “tactic of coercion,” arguing that the facilities help finance Moscow’s war effort and supply fuel for its military. The Ukrainian government has increasingly used long-range drones to target Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure, causing widespread disruption.

Zelenskyy's decision to resume strikes on Russian refineries highlights the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, despite diplomatic efforts to achieve a truce.

Background

What's confirmed

• Zelenskyy said Russia had attacked Ukraine with more than 850 Shahed drones at a time when the speed of Ukraine’s defensive capabilities was being “artificially restricted”, a reference to the sudden limitations on Ukraine’s use of the Starlink and Starshield mobile internet terminals.
• Credit: AP/Dan Bashakov KYIV, Ukraine — Russian missiles and drones injured at least 19 people overnight in Ukraine's capital and the surrounding region, authorities said.
• “Let him go after targets but not diesel fuel, because he's causing a shortage of diesel fuel.” Ukraine has increasingly used long-range drones to strike Russia's oil and gas infrastructure, arguing that the facilities help finance Moscow's war effort and supply fuel for its military.

What's still developing

• “This politically is not simple [in America], because everybody will want to ask how it can be when some people are surviving, fighting, dying – and you make... business with the guys with such aggression,” Zelenskyy told the FT.
• “Time for Zelensky to go.” Ukraine is heavily dependent on Western military aid in its fight against Russia, particularly from the US and Germany.
• “I believe that achieving a truce could be one of the key outcomes of this meeting. It could be a truce covering both the energy sector and the Black Sea — specifically in that combination,” he said.
• Ukraine War · 06 September, 2026 · 3 min read US envoys Witkoff and Kushner met Zelensky in Kyiv after Moscow talks with Putin The trip is a renewed push to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine following Putin meeting 17 outlets, one story, no spin found. 12 of 20 outlets skipped it: US envoys Witkoff and Kushner met Zelensky after Moscow talks.
• The Independent also reported Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the talks were "substantive, constructive and extremely frank," while giving no indication of any breakthrough.
• A massive wave of unmanned aircraft estimated to be more than 1,000 targeted the Russian capital and its surroundings early Sunday, setting a local oil refinery ablaze and killing at least two. (AP; Music courtesy of Universal Production Music) Ukraine delivered a barrage of missiles and more than 1,000 drones on Russia, which Moscow is calling the "largest ever" of the war and an attack on its parliamentary elections.
• “There is diplomatic momentum," Zelensky wrote on X.
• "There are ideas for de-escalation steps and for addressing fundamental security issues – energy security, food security, and the protection of human life. We are working together with the American team and are ready to take really serious steps," he said.
• As reported by Ukrinform, Volodymyr Zelensky formed a Ukrainian delegation to participate in negotiations with Canada regarding preparations for the conclusion of a Centennial Partnership Agreement between the two countries.
• “The visit’s agenda will focus on shared Canadian-Ukrainian priorities, including deepening defense, economic, and energy cooperation,” the office of the Canadian Prime Minister confirmed.

Sources

• Al Jazeeralink
• The Guardianlink
• WGALlink
• Newsdaylink
• Azernewslink
• Transylvaniatimeslink
• Warpbeatlink
• Informatlink
• Newscordlink
• Cbsaustinlink
• Lavocedinewyorklink
• Fox Newslink
• Washingtonsunlink
• Justthenewslink
• Ukrinformlink
• WarpBeat — background on Ukraine Shrugs Off Trump Call to Ditch Zelensky for Energy Strikes link
• Prof Jiang Geopolitics — video link