Ukraine has temporarily halted its military drone campaign targeting Russian oil refineries following pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, according to reporting published on Thursday. Citing individuals familiar with the operations, the reporting indicates that Ukrainian units executing long-range strikes were instructed in mid-October to place the refinery offensive on hold once missions already underway were completed.
This unofficial suspension is anticipated to remain in effect until the conclusion of the U.S. midterm elections and potentially extend further into November. The development coincides with an escalation of Russian assaults targeting Ukrainian energy grids and civilian infrastructure. Independent verification of the reported pause could not be immediately established.
The halt in strikes unfolds against the backdrop of renewed diplomatic initiatives to restart U.S.-backed negotiations aimed at resolving Europe’s most fatal conflict since the Second World War. Ties between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have deteriorated sharply over recent weeks, driven by Trump’s mounting frustration over Ukrainian operations hitting Russian energy facilities as domestic diesel prices reached record levels.
Prior to the reported pause, Kyiv had consistently rejected demands to cease the attacks, maintaining that its long-range drone operations represent an essential countermeasure against years of sustained Russian bombardment. This refusal led Trump to announce an arrangement to purchase diesel fuel from Moscow and suspend economic sanctions on Russia that had been authorized under legislation he signed into law in September.
