KYIV : Ukraine has quietly suspended its long range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries following sustained pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Ukrainian military units were notified in mid October to wrap up active operations and hold off on new missions targeting Russian energy infrastructure. The informal pause is expected to remain through the upcoming U.S. midterm elections and could extend into November.
The move comes as Washington attempts to revive peace negotiations to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. Tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have mounted in recent weeks as record high diesel prices heightened U.S. frustration over the economic fallout of the campaign.
To help stabilize global energy markets, the Trump administration moved to secure a diesel supply deal with Moscow, granting targeted sanctions waivers. Ukrainian leadership accepted the pause as a necessary diplomatic concession, though military officials maintain they retain the authority to resume strikes if needed.
For months, Kyiv resisted calls to halt the strikes, framing its deep drone campaign as a critical response to ongoing Russian bombardment. Despite Ukraine’s pause, Russian forces have continued to intensify missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure ahead of winter.
