Ukraine Resumes Drone Attacks on Russian Oil Refineries After Brief Pause Amid Trump’s Pressure

MOSCOW (Terror Monitor) — Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries following a temporary pause, targeting three oil-processing facilities and a gas-chemical complex, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday, October 30.

Speaking to Russian state television, Novak said Ukrainian forces had renewed their attacks overnight, ending a period of relative calm during which strikes on Russian energy infrastructure had temporarily subsided.

"There was a pause that lasted for a certain period, but today attacks on oil refineries have resumed," Novak said, adding that three refineries and one gas-chemical complex had been targeted.

He also indicated that Russian facilities were continuing to implement protective measures against further drone attacks.

According to reports, one of the targeted facilities sustained minor damage. However, the full extent of the damage and the operational impact on the facilities have not been independently established.

Smoke Reported Over Samara Oil Refinery

Meanwhile, videos circulated on Russian Telegram channels appeared to show smoke rising from an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region following a reported Ukrainian drone attack overnight into Friday.

The Washington Post reported that Ukrainian drones had struck the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in the Samara region, citing information from Ukrainian defence company Fire Point, which claimed that multiple impacts had been recorded across the facility.

Regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed a drone attack on civilian infrastructure in the region but did not specifically mention the refinery or confirm the reported damage.

Ukrainian authorities had not immediately commented on the latest reported attacks.

Trump’s Pressure on Kyiv Over Russian Energy Facilities

The renewed strikes come amid weeks of pressure from US President Donald Trump on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to halt attacks against Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure.

Trump has repeatedly argued that Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy facilities have contributed to rising international diesel prices, making fuel costs a growing political and economic concern in the United States ahead of the November midterm elections.

On October 11, Trump announced what he described as an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, calling on both sides to stop attacks on energy infrastructure.

However, the proposed arrangement remained poorly defined, with no clearly established terms or publicly confirmed agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.

Zelensky subsequently said Ukraine had suspended attacks on Russian oil refineries for three days following Trump's announcement but accused Russia of continuing attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

In an interview with the Financial Times published on October 15, Zelensky indicated that Ukraine would resume targeting Russian refineries if Moscow continued striking Ukrainian energy facilities.

Iran War and Rising Global Fuel Prices

The dispute over Russian refinery attacks has also become increasingly connected to the global energy market.

Trump has blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure for contributing to higher diesel prices and has sought to increase Russian fuel supplies to international markets.

However, energy market analysts have pointed to the US-Israeli war against Iran, which began with airstrikes on February 28, as a major factor behind the surge in global fuel prices and disruptions to energy supplies.

The Associated Press reported that the war involving Iran had significantly disrupted the global energy sector, contributing to higher fuel prices in the United States.

Trump has also announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to secure large quantities of Russian diesel for the US market, seeking to ease domestic fuel-price pressures ahead of the midterm elections.

The agreement marked a significant shift in Washington's approach to Russian energy exports amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Kremlin Says Renewed Strikes Will Not Derail Peace Talks

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that the renewed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries would not jeopardize planned trilateral peace negotiations involving representatives of the United States, Russia and Ukraine.

According to Reuters, Peskov said the latest attacks would not undermine efforts to arrange negotiations aimed at ending the war.

At the same time, the Kremlin accused Kyiv of disregarding Trump's repeated requests to refrain from attacking Russian energy infrastructure.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov also criticized Ukraine over the reported resumption of attacks, saying Kyiv was ignoring the US president's position despite Washington's efforts to advance a diplomatic settlement.

The latest developments highlight the challenges facing US-led diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, as both sides continue to accuse each other of targeting critical infrastructure while negotiations remain uncertain.