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U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. / AP, AFP Yonhap

Ukraine resumed strikes targeting Russian oil refineries on the 15th (local time). The "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine announced by U.S. President Donald Trump effectively collapsed just three days later.

The Associated Press reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry and Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov, that Ukraine struck an oil refinery in the Ryazan region, about 300 kilometers southeast of Moscow, with drones on that day, causing a fire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed anger over Russia continuing its bombardment of energy infrastructure despite President Trump demanding that both sides halt attacks on the 11th.

President Zelenskyy lamented that even though he complied with President Trump's call for a truce, he did not receive typical Western intelligence support regarding Russian ballistic missile attacks, and restrictions were also imposed on the use of U.S.-made Starlink communication terminals.

In an interview with the Financial Times (FT) published on the 15th, he declared, "It is over now," stating that Ukraine would resume strikes on Russian oil refineries.

An anonymous senior Ukrainian official confirmed the strike on the Russian refinery.

Russian Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov countered on the same day that Ukraine had never stopped attacking oil refineries.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized Ukraine's strikes on oil facilities as a "direct and blatant challenge to President Trump."

                                                                                                             Kim Hyun-min