Zelenskyy Resumes Russian Refinery Strikes After U.S. Satellite Throttling

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the resumption of drone and missile strikes on Russian oil refineries on October 15, 2026, ending a brief energy ceasefire requested by the United States. The decision followed a series of disruptions to Starshield, a military-grade satellite network, which imposed a 100mph (160km/h) speed limit on terminals. This restriction rendered many Ukrainian interceptor drones inoperable, hindering the defense of Kyiv against Russian Shahed drones during intense missile attacks.

Elon Musk clarified that while SpaceX operates the hardware, the U.S. government and President Donald Trump own and control Starshield, deciding all usage and speed limits. Zelenskyy characterized these restrictions and a reported withdrawal of U.S. intelligence sharing as a betrayal, linking them to Trump's efforts to lower U.S. diesel prices. Trump recently brokered a deal to import Russian diesel and pressured Kyiv to halt refinery strikes to stabilize global energy markets.

Relations further deteriorated as Trump called for Zelenskyy to resign and hold wartime elections. Zelenskyy rejected this, offering elections only if Russia agrees to a 60-day total ceasefire, a proposal the Kremlin dismissed. While some connectivity was partially restored by Wednesday, Ukrainian officials maintain that current limits remain insufficient. In response to the rift, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged continued support and accelerated the delivery of missiles to Ukraine.