Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine temporarily halted attacks on Russian oil refineries after U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire announcement, while Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system continued, according to reports of a briefing.
The Kyiv Independent and LB.ua reported that Zelenskyy discussed the halt during a closed-door briefing with journalists on Oct. 27. Their accounts described a 72-hour pause, while his reported words referred to leaving refineries alone for “at least 72 hours.” The outlets gave no precise start or end time for the halt.
The restriction did not cover every Ukrainian operation, according to those reports. Zelenskyy said troops had been asked to act more cautiously but could still answer Russian attacks. “They do not have orders not to respond,” he said, according to LB.ua. The outlets reported that he mentioned operations against data centers and sites where Russian ballistic missiles were concentrated.
Trump said in an Oct. 11 Truth Social post that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine took effect immediately and that both sides had agreed. In a public address that day, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to refrain from attacking Russian energy infrastructure if Russia showed the same willingness. He also said Russian forces had struck Ukrainian energy facilities, including the CHP-5 power plant in Kharkiv.
Ukraine’s presidential office said Russia’s overnight attack into Oct. 14 included 39 ballistic missiles and more than 100 Shahed drones. The office separately reported that more than 40 Shahed drones remained airborne and were striking energy infrastructure, logistics and railways.
Zelenskyy has cited damage to Ukraine’s lone refinery as the reason the country needs to bring petroleum products in from abroad. He has made a halt to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries and oil exports conditional on Moscow stopping its attacks on Ukraine’s energy system, a position covered in earlier EconoTimes reporting on the refinery pause and an official account from the president’s office. That office has said Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure intensify each winter. Zelenskyy has also said refinery fires and gasoline shortages have hurt Russia.
