Ukraine bombs Russian refineries defying Trump's midterm wishes

Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries, defying pressure from Donald Trump ahead of the US midterm elections. According to the Guardian ^[1], Kyiv’s decision comes just days after the White House reportedly demanded a pause on bombing energy infrastructure.

The Wall Street Journal had reported that Ukraine agreed to halt strikes, but Ukrainian officials told the Kyiv Independent ^[1] they never accepted Jared Kushner’s request for a 30-day break. Kremlin officials accused Kyiv of “simply ignoring” US wishes after drones set fire to the Kstovo refinery and a Rosneft site in Samara.

Trump has blamed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for rising global fuel prices and recently lifted US sanctions on Russian diesel. Zelenskyy, avoiding direct confirmation of the refinery strikes to prevent US reprisals, stated his forces hit a missile factory in Rostov instead. He argued Ukraine must retaliate against Moscow’s relentless drone and ballistic missile campaign on civilian energy facilities.

The strikes coincided with the end of a six-day ceasefire in Oleshky, brokered by First Lady Melania Trump. Hundreds of residents were reunited with families during the truce, which ran from October 27 to November 1. Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, called it an “important step” in humanitarian efforts. However, observers claim Russia used the pause to reinforce positions and rotate exhausted troops.

Pope Francis expressed hope that the cooperation shown in Oleshky would encourage broader dialogue. Meanwhile, technical glitches plagued alert systems: Ukraine’s air raid app displayed false radiation threats, while Russia claimed a cyber-attack disrupted its own warning application.

Trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the US are expected later this month. Kremlin officials stated Vladimir Putin is willing to speak directly to Zelenskyy but excluded European leaders from the call. Despite diplomatic gestures, prospects for a breakthrough remain slim. Putin insists Ukraine must cede all of Donetsk oblast and parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia—territories Moscow claims to have annexed but does not fully control. As the war grinds on, Zelenskyy noted Russia suffered record losses in October, with 54,400 casualties, while Ukraine recaptured more land than it lost.