Energy truce between Russia and Ukraine falters
Russia says Ukraine attacked two refineries, while Kyiv says it is observing the truce.
Follow-up to: New Russian attack leaves Kyiv without power Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 17:33
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking two oil refineries during the energy truce announced by Donald Trump. Ukraine denies the attack; independent confirmation of the Russian claim is lacking, while Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities continue.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday that Ukraine had attacked refineries in the Saratov and Ryazan regions. According to Reuters, he also said that Moscow had seen no indication that Kyiv was working towards an energy truce. Russian authorities did not disclose what damage the alleged attacks had caused.
Ukrainian officials dispute that account. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier that Ukraine had not attacked Russian refineries or other energy facilities since Trump’s announcement. AP and other media also reported that independent local sources had not confirmed the new Russian claim.
At the same time, Zelenskyy reported on Wednesday that Russian forces had attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure for the third night in a row. According to AP, the electricity grid, oil and gas facilities and several power stations were hit. The Russian military itself said it had attacked six power stations in and around Kyiv and Charkiv.
The energy truce is therefore not the same as a formally signed agreement. Trump said on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure, but neither government has published the full text of such an agreement. A Kremlin spokesman said on Wednesday that details were still being discussed.
The earlier Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries are part of Kyiv’s attempt to target Russia’s fuel supplies and war industry. Washington is urging Ukraine to stop doing so. Kyiv, by contrast, says that a truce is credible only if Russia stops attacking the Ukrainian electricity grid and other critical infrastructure.
The situation is therefore above all a struggle over the interpretation of the truce. Russia may use the alleged attacks to justify new Ukrainian actions; Ukraine may present the Russian attacks as evidence that Moscow does not recognise the agreement. As long as there is no joint text, independent monitoring and mutual confirmation, it remains unclear exactly which targets are covered by the truce.
For European countries, the uncertainty increases pressure over support for Ukraine and on the energy and fuel market. The immediate consequences depend on any damage to refineries and power stations, but no reliable independent figures are yet available on the reported attacks.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Russia says Ukraine attacked two oil refineries.
- Ukraine denies this and says it is observing the announced energy halt.
- According to Ukrainian sources and AP, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities continued.
- There is no full agreement publicly available and confirmed by both parties.
Left
Arguments A truce should above all protect civilians and essential facilities. Ukraine should not unilaterally give up its means of defence under American pressure while Russia continues its attacks.
Values Civilian protection, international legal norms and Ukrainian self-determination.
Consequences An asymmetric agreement could give Russia a strategic advantage and expose the Ukrainian population to fresh attacks.
Centre
Arguments An energy truce can be a useful first step, but only if it is put in writing, applies mutually and is independently monitored. Both parties must substantiate their claims with verifiable information.
Values De-escalation, verifiability and diplomatic stability.
Consequences Clear monitoring can limit further escalation; a vague truce makes mutual accusations more likely.
Right
Arguments Russia must be deterred, but Ukraine must also take account of the wider consequences of attacks on Russian fuel supplies. American pressure to stop attacks on refineries could affect fuel markets and further escalation.
Values Deterrence, security and protection of economic interests.
Consequences Continuing the attacks could harm Russia’s war capacity, but could also trigger retaliatory attacks and higher energy prices.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article explicitly attributes the Russian accusation to Russia and does not present it as an established fact. The broader description of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities is supported by AP and Reuters.
- confirmed Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Ukraine had attacked two refineries. — Reuters reports this as a statement by Novak; the attack itself has therefore not been independently established. source
- confirmed Ukraine says it has not attacked Russian energy facilities since Trump’s announcement. — This position was reported by AP and Reuters on the basis of statements by Zelenskyy. source
- confirmed Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities continued on Wednesday. — AP describes the third consecutive night of attacks and identifies energy facilities as targets. source
- confirmed Trump announced an energy truce without Russia and Ukraine making the full text public. — Reuters reports that Trump announced the truce and that neither side has fully confirmed it. source
- confirmed The Russian military said it had attacked six power stations in and around Kyiv and Charkiv. — AP attributes this to the Russian Ministry of Defence. source
Editor's note
The Russian claim about two refineries being hit has not been independently confirmed. The ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities and the differing public positions on the truce have, however, been described by multiple sources.Sources
- Zelenskyy says Russia keeps striking Ukraine’s energy sites despite Trump ceasefire push — Associated Press
- Trump says US still sharing intel, even as Ukraine reports attacks with no warnings — Reuters via Investing.com
- Russia says Ukraine hit two oil refineries on Wednesday — Reuters via Devdiscourse
The story so far
- Friday, 9 October 2026, 21:44 Trump announces 300,000-tonne Russian diesel deal
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 06:48 US temporarily make Russian diesel tradable again
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 10:45 Deadly attack puts Trump's diesel deal under pressure
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 20:45 Trump calls for new president of Ukraine
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 22:48 British prime minister promises Zelensky support after Trump criticism
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 14:57 Zelensky offers to halt refinery attacks in return for Russian move
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 19:28 Trump announces energy ceasefire, Kyiv does not confirm agreement
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 20:28 Trump announces energy ceasefire, attacks continue
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 21:02 Attack on power station immediately puts Trump’s energy truce under pressure
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 22:27 Russian attacks put energy truce under immediate pressure
- Monday, 12 October 2026, 12:59 Kremlin does not confirm Trump's energy ceasefire
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 14:59 Zelensky had no warning of Russian missile attack on Kyiv
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 23:28 Zelensky says allies again failed to warn him
- Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 01:56 Russian missiles hit power plant in Kyiv
- Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 06:59 Russian missile hits power station in Kyiv
- Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 08:00 Zelensky seeks swift new talks with US envoys
- Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 09:29 New Russian attacks increase pressure on Ukraine’s power grid
- Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 17:33 New Russian attack leaves Kyiv without power
- Wednesday, 14 October 2026, 18:58 Energy truce between Russia and Ukraine falters (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „rusland oekraïne”
- Trouw — „rusland oekraïne”
- NRC — „rusland oekraïne”