Russia on Thursday said that Ukraine has resumed attacks on oil refineries inside Russian territory, describing the strikes as a renewal of hostilities against energy infrastructure.
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, earlier said Kyiv was "done" with an energy ceasefire and announced plans to resume strikes on Russian oil refineries. His comment marked a public shift away from the temporary pause in operations aimed at protecting civilian energy supplies on both sides.
Background
The energy ceasefire had been introduced to limit damage to fuel production and distribution systems and to reduce humanitarian impacts linked to shortages of heating and transport fuel. Moscow's statement framed the resumption of strikes as a direct threat to its domestic energy sector and warned of consequences for security and logistics.
Implications
Analysts caution that renewed attacks on refineries risk further degrading critical infrastructure, complicating civilian access to fuel and potentially prompting retaliatory measures. The move also raises the prospect of an escalation in attacks and counterattacks focused on industrial and energy targets, with wider implications for regional stability.
International observers have previously urged protection of civilian energy facilities to avoid humanitarian fallout. The latest exchange underscores the fragility of temporary agreements and highlights how quickly operational pauses can end amid broader hostilities.