Russia on Wednesday accused Ukraine of attacking two oil refineries, alleging that the strikes violated an energy ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump. However, Kyiv rejected the accusation, calling Moscow’s claim false. The dispute has raised fresh questions about efforts to reduce attacks on energy infrastructure.
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Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Ukrainian drones targeted refineries in the Saratov and Ryazan regions. He argued that Ukraine had shown no positive progress towards respecting the proposed energy truce. Moscow described the alleged attacks as a direct violation of the ceasefire arrangement.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn, dismissed Russia’s claims. He acknowledged that attacks had occurred at other locations but insisted that the refineries were not targeted. The two sides therefore presented conflicting accounts of the reported incidents.
The accusation came days after Trump announced a unilateral energy ceasefire on Sunday. His announcement followed a decision to ease certain restrictions affecting Russian diesel exports, according to the report. The proposed pause was intended to limit attacks on energy facilities, although the article did not provide independent confirmation of the alleged refinery strikes.
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Novak said Moscow saw no positive response from Ukraine regarding the energy truce. However, Kyiv’s denial leaves the central allegation disputed. Further independent verification would be needed to establish whether the refineries were attacked and whether any ceasefire terms were breached. The latest exchange highlights continuing tensions between Russia and Ukraine over energy infrastructure during the ongoing war.