Ukraine has continued targeting Russian oil infrastructure despite pressure from US President Donald Trump to halt attacks that Washington says are contributing to the global fuel supply squeeze.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces had struck an oil facility in Russia’s Samara region, alongside attacks on a Russian vessel in the Black Sea and a drone facility in the Oryol region.
The strikes come as global diesel supplies remain under severe pressure. Ukraine’s campaign against Russian refineries has disrupted a significant portion of Russia’s refining capacity, while Moscow has extended restrictions on diesel exports through the end of October.
Trump has repeatedly linked the disruption of Russian refining capacity to rising US diesel prices and has urged Kyiv to stop targeting Russian energy facilities. The US administration is also considering restrictions on diesel exports and has pressed European countries to release emergency fuel reserves.
However, energy analysts say the current fuel-price surge has multiple causes, including disruptions associated with the Middle East conflict and broader constraints on global refining capacity. Brent crude rose above $100 a barrel on Thursday amid renewed concerns about fuel supplies.
Meanwhile, Russia has continued heavy missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, with Kyiv facing emergency electricity cuts following a major assault on the power grid.
The competing attacks on energy infrastructure are adding pressure to an already strained global fuel market as governments prepare for further supply disruptions.
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