Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refinerys, despite US President Donald Trump’s pressure to stop them, at a time when the end of the local ceasefire in the occupied town of Olesky is nearing.

Russian state media reported on Sunday that long-range Ukrainian drones had hit the oil refinery at Kstovo at night in the region of Nizny Novgorod, sparking fire.

The attack occurred shortly after a major blow to another refinery in the Samara region, owned by Russian state energy giant Rosneft.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine had agreed to the White House’s request to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian officials, however, have told the newspaper Kyiv Independent that Kiev had rejected the request of Jared Kouchner, the son-in-law of President Trump, for suspending attacks on refinerys for 30 days, reports The Guardian.

Ukrainian attacks on Russia resumed Friday, while Kremlin officials have complained that Kiev is ignoring US demands.

Trump has blamed Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky for increasing global fuel prices. Last month, he lifted US sanctions on Russian diesel.

Zelensky has not directly commented on the recent attacks on the refinery, in what is seen as an attempt to avoid Washington’s harsh response.

Instead, he announced that Ukrainian forces had hit a defence industry company in the Russian region of Rostov, where rockets are produced. According to him, a Pantsir missile system has been destroyed during the attack.

He described these actions as part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign for the deployment of long-range action ésanctions towards Russia.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was obliged to respond to continued Russian attacks with fears and ballistic missiles aimed at energy infrastructure in Ukrainian cities.

During the night, Russian attacks hit four regions of Ukraine, leaving hundreds of thousands of families without electricity.

The intensity of the attacks is too high and the Russians are trying to make the most of the lack of ballistic interceptive missiles, Zelensky wrote in the telegram.

In the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, power cuts lasted from eight to ten hours Sunday, after an important thermal power plant was damaged by attacks.

The Ukrainian president also claimed Russia suffered record losses during October. According to him, 54 thousand and 400 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded this month, the highest monthly figure since the beginning of the total invasion.

He said Ukrainian forces have recovered 96.2 square miles [96.2 sq km] of territory during October, 15 square miles [10.4 sq km] more than the territory Russia has occupied during the same period.

Russia is losing, Zelensky stressed.

Recent attacks occurred on the eve of the end of a six-day local ceasefire in the occupied town of Olesky, mediated by the first American lady, Melanie Trump.

Over the weekend, hundreds of residents of this city were reunited with their families in northern Ukraine, as the ceasefire enabled them to cross occupied territory.

Both sides described the evacuation operation as successful. The truce is expected to be completed Sunday evening.

Source Layer: Dukeagini