Ukraine has resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries, abandoning a brief pause that followed pressure from the Trump administration to halt the attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would no longer hold back, days after officials in Kyiv said restrictions on Starlink satellite service had disrupted military drone operations and communications along the front.

The refinery strikes had been part of Ukraine's campaign against Russia's war economy, and their brief suspension came amid a broader push by the Trump administration to broker a ceasefire. The Kremlin said Ukraine's renewed attacks undermined that effort, framing the strikes as a complication to diplomacy backed by Washington. Ukrainian officials said Russia continued its own strikes throughout the pause, including attacks on Kyiv's energy infrastructure that left roughly 600,000 people without power.

The dispute over Starlink has added a volatile new element to the strained relationship between Kyiv and Washington. Ukrainian officials said satellite internet speeds were throttled in the period before a Russian attack. Suspicions about Starlink's role, paired with warnings relayed inside the Trump administration, contributed to a shift in how the White House viewed Zelensky. Service was reportedly restored after public attention intensified, though the episode has raised questions among Ukrainian officials about reliance on a system controlled by a private company with ties to the US government.

Part of the confusion stems from limited public understanding of Starshield, the military-focused satellite system distinct from the commercial Starlink network, and who holds authority to restrict it. Access limitations appear to have been imposed by US officials rather than SpaceX directly, though the lines of responsibility remain unclear.

The political fallout has been sharper in Washington than in most European capitals. Trump's frustration with Ukraine has intersected with domestic political pressures following the midterms, affecting his posture toward Zelensky. European Union leaders have urged Zelensky to temper his public criticism of Trump, wary of further straining transatlantic coordination on Ukraine's behalf.

Meanwhile, the war continues to produce civilian and military consequences. A Russian drone strike hit a supermarket in Ukraine, and near contested towns on the front lines, Ukrainian forces have used modified 'Vampire' drones to drop food to residents in areas cut off by fighting.

Zelensky, in an interview with the Financial Times, said he believes Trump's relationship with Vladimir Putin continues to shape US decision-making on Ukraine, a dynamic he said Kyiv must navigate carefully as it seeks to preserve both battlefield capability and diplomatic support.

References

1. 1.Wall Street Journal — reporting on Starlink suspicions and internal Trump administration warnings
2. 2.Axios — reporting on restoration of Starlink service after public attention
3. 3.Al Jazeera — reporting on Starshield access restrictions and US official involvement
4. 4.Vox — reporting on Trump's political frustrations following the midterms
5. 5.The Atlantic — reporting on domestic political pressures shaping Trump's posture toward Zelensky
6. 6.Financial Times — reporting on EU leaders' concerns and Zelensky interview