Russia and Ukraine have resumed military strikes against each other as a proposed energy ceasefire, initiated by former President Donald Trump, has collapsed. Moscow launched a significant drone attack on infrastructure in central Ukraine, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv would restart strikes on Russian oil refineries. This development follows an accusation from Russia that Ukraine attacked a refinery in the Ryazan region, marking the first such incident since Trump's declaration of an 'energy ceasefire' that was not formally agreed upon by either party. Trump has urged Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian oil facilities, citing concerns over rising global diesel prices.
In a related incident, two Russian drones reportedly violated Romanian airspace and struck chemical tankers, resulting in a fire and the search for seven missing sailors. Romanian President Nicușor Dan described the situation in the Black Sea as serious, emphasizing the unacceptable nature of attacks on commercial vessels.
Zelenskyy stated that the temporary halt on strikes against Russian oil refineries was over, indicating a shift in Ukraine's military strategy. He criticized the limitations on U.S. intelligence sharing as dangerous and expressed concerns about Russia's escalation of attacks following sanctions relief. Images from Ryazan showed flames at the targeted refinery, which officials claimed was hit by 69 drones and four cruise missiles. Ukraine's military reported successful strikes against Russian fighter jets and an airfield in the Voronezh region, where Zelenskyy indicated the aircraft were prepared for further attacks on Ukraine.
In central Ukraine, over 360 Russian drones targeted the Kirovohrad region, resulting in three fatalities and six injuries. Regional governor Andriy Raikovych stated that critical infrastructure and residential areas were deliberately hit. Zelenskyy called for consistent support from allies in defending Ukraine's airspace, urging American citizens to stand with Ukraine against aggression. Trump’s declaration of an 'energy ceasefire' had previously been met with skepticism, as Russia continued its heavy strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, leading to power and water outages in several cities. The U.S. has reportedly pressured Ukraine to comply with Russian demands, threatening to cut military assistance and intelligence sharing, which has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials about the reliability of U.S. support.