European Leaders Have Backed Ukraine's Strikes On Russian Oil Refineries
1- 15.10.2026, 13:58
This constitutes lawful self-defense.
Ukraine, which is defending itself against a full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation, has the right to to strike Russian oil refineries, according to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. Such attacks, which Kyiv resumed after a three-day hiatus, are lawful, and the quickest way for Russia to stop them is to end the war, she said in an interview with Euronews, published on Thursday, October 15.
“If we look at international law, it’s clear that for Ukraine this is a form of self-defense,” Kallas went on to say. Oil refineries provide funding for the war, which claims the lives of Ukrainians every day, she explained.
“The bulk of the war’s funding comes from oil. That is precisely why Ukraine is striking these facilities. Russia, on the other hand, is attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to inflict as much suffering as possible on Ukrainians this coming winter,” the head of European diplomacy added.
Nausėda supported the resumption of Ukrainian Armed Forces strikes against Russia
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda also supported Kyiv’s decision to resume strikes on Russian oil refineries. A unilateral cessation of Ukrainian Armed Forces attacks in exchange for “complete freedom” for Russia to strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure would lead to “collapse,” he told reporters ahead of the EU summit in Brussels.
According to Nausėda, a ceasefire is a process that requires the participation of both sides. “I don’t understand how one can talk about a ceasefire while imposing demands and conditions on only one side,” said the Lithuanian president, noting that Russia is also obligated to comply with and respect international rules. “However, it would be naive to expect a country that unleashed a war in 2022—and under whose conditions we have been living for five years now—to comply with international norms,” he added.
Nausėda also called on European countries to be on the right side of history and to “remain united” in their support for Ukraine. It is naive to believe that Russia’s goal is merely to seize new territories. “They are challenging the Western way of life,” he asserted.
Zelenskyy announced the resumption of strikes on Russian oil refineries
On the same day, Ukraine resumed strikes on the Russian oil sector, targeting an oil refinery in the Ryazan region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the Financial Times that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are resuming such attacks after a three-day hiatus. According to him, Kyiv suspended strikes on energy facilities in response to U.S. requests, while Moscow continued to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of more than 100 civilians over the past week.
While the Ukrainian Armed Forces refrained from striking Russian oil refineries, they were deprived of U.S. intelligence warnings about missile threats, as well as the full range of Starlink satellite internet services, the Ukrainian president further noted.
Zelenskyy also noted that refraining from strikes on energy infrastructure could only push the U.S. and Russia toward new deals, which would provide additional funding for the Russian war machine. “The only question is, when will the next deal be concluded? Perhaps it will involve gas. Most likely, it will be about gas,” he speculated.
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