Ukraine Resumes Russian Refinery Strikes as US Pushes Gas Transit Plan

Ukraine's latest refinery attacks followed an interruption lasting almost a month amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, according to Infobae. The renewed strikes put Russian oil processing facilities back in the firing line while Washington pursued a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.

Times of India reported that the resumption followed a US proposal for a temporary halt. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes were a response to continuing Russian attacks.

On October 30, Ukraine again attacked the Novokuibyshevsk refinery in Russia's Samara region, according to Infobae. The report described the strike as taking place despite repeated pressure from Trump.

That day, RT en Español reported a Russian warning that attacks on its refineries could affect global fuel supplies. It cited Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexánder Novak as saying Ukrainian drones had attacked three oil refineries and a petrochemical complex.

On October 31, Infobae reported a further drone attack on the Bashneft-Novoil refinery in Ufa. That followed the previous day's resumption of strikes against the sector.

On November 2, The Wall Street Journal reported that the US was pushing to restore Russian natural gas sales to Europe through pipelines crossing Ukraine. Bloomberg, citing that report, said US officials were promoting the plan.

The proposed arrangement would use a US intermediary to sell Russian gas to European buyers, potentially bypassing European sanctions, according to News18. The Independent reported that White House officials wanted an energy ceasefire before winter and that trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi were scheduled for mid-November.

The coverage describes a US proposal, not an agreed restart of gas deliveries. Sankei News, citing the US reporting, said Washington had presented the plan to Russia and Ukraine as part of negotiations aimed at stopping attacks on energy facilities.

There are obstacles on both the buying and supplying sides. According to Sankei News, European officials showed no interest because the arrangement would renew dependence on Russian energy. The same report said Russian presidential spokesman Peskov considered an immediate resumption of exports impossible.

The refinery strikes and the gas proposal concern different energy supplies, oil processing and natural gas transit. Their connection is the effort to negotiate a pause in attacks on energy infrastructure while Ukraine says its strikes respond to Russian attacks.

The next scheduled diplomatic step is the mid-November trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi reported by The Independent. The immediate issues are whether an energy ceasefire can be agreed and whether the proposed gas arrangement attracts European buyers.

The available coverage does not establish that either side has accepted a new halt to energy attacks. It also leaves unresolved how a US intermediary would operate, how sanctions would be handled and when pipeline sales could resume.