Ukraine launches large‑scale drone strikes on Russian oil installations amid US diplomatic spat with Kyiv

Ukrainian drones set an oil export terminal and a depot ablaze in St. Petersburg on Sunday, as Kyiv launched more than 1,000 drones in one of its largest aerial attacks of the war.

The strikes come as tensions between Kyiv and Washington deepen. President Donald Trump has criticized Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, and he has postponed new sanctions on Moscow, saying he does not want to drive Russia away from negotiations. Trump defended his decision to waive new sanctions, arguing that additional penalties would undermine prospects for a diplomatic end to the conflict.

Trump also attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, claiming Zelensky does not want to end the war and accusing him of targeting Russian energy infrastructure.

Zelensky responded, stating that waiving sanctions would strengthen Russia’s war effort. Speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he said US‑Ukraine intelligence sharing had resumed after a pause, and warned that siding with Moscow would be a historic mistake for Washington.

Zelensky emphasized the difference between him and Putin, calling Putin an aggressor and terrorist, and urged Trump to remain clear on the issue. He later said he had spoken with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about a recent negotiation meeting and next diplomatic steps.

Casualties and damage: One person was killed and five wounded in the St. Petersburg attack, which set the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchi oil depot ablaze. A logistics center for Ozon and a VK data center were also targeted. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have destroyed 1,015 Ukrainian drones across 15 regions, Crimea and the Black Sea. A woman and a 6‑year‑old girl were among at least two people killed in Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia.

The conflict’s energy dimension: Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” on Oct. 11 but offered no details. Ukraine reported Russian attacks on energy sites continued after the announcement, and resumed strikes on Russian oil facilities after a three‑day pause. Zelensky said Russia had struck Ukrainian energy infrastructure 76 times in the week following Trump’s statement, causing power outages for tens of thousands of families. He warned that Russia is not reciprocating sanctions relief.

Diplomatic incident: Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry apologized after a drone entered Lithuanian airspace, prompting an air‑raid warning. Russian electronic warfare may have diverted the drone. Lithuanian authorities advised residents in two northern counties to take cover; a drone damaged a car in Pasvalys region, but no injuries were reported.

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