The USA threatens to cut intel sharing and arms shipments to Ukraine to protect Russian oil refineries
In a sharp escalation of pressure, the Trump administration has threatened senior Ukrainian military and government officials with cutting off both intelligence sharing and critical arms deliveries if Kyiv continues striking Russian oil refineries. According to Ukrainian sources, American counterparts made clear that Washington would hold Ukraine responsible for any attacks on Russian energy infrastructure during the recently announced “energy ceasefire.”
The threats arrived after a chaotic 48 hours in which President Trump first announced a deal allowing Russian diesel onto global markets, then unilaterally declared an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine — a move that blindsided both Kyiv and Moscow. Ukrainian officials confirm they received no prior notice of the ceasefire announcement. Shortly afterward, high-ranking figures, including President’s Office Deputy Head Pavlo Palisa and Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, began receiving calls from the American side warning that both intelligence support and the Europe-funded PURL weapons program could be switched off.
Despite the announced truce, Russia continued attacking Ukrainian energy facilities, striking the Kharkiv thermal power plant within hours of Trump’s statement. President Zelensky has signaled Ukraine’s readiness to respect a genuine mutual energy ceasefire, but stressed that it must cover the entire power grid, not just oil refineries — a distinction that matters because Ukraine has only one heavily damaged refinery left and relies on imported fuel. “We agree if they agree,” Zelensky said, noting that Ukrainian forces refrained from striking Russian refineries overnight while Russia immediately resumed attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Russian foreign minister claims that Zelensky has not earned a ceasefire
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has made clear that Moscow has no intention of granting Ukraine any pause on the battlefield. Commenting on the energy truce announced by US President Donald Trump, Lavrov stated: “I do not think he [President Zelensky] has earned a respite. I do not think that we will once again fall for assurances and promises.” In the Russian foreign minister’s interpretation, it is Ukraine that, “pumped up with European weapons, is waging a terrorist war against the Russian people.”
The Kremlin has also firmly rejected Zelensky’s proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that would allow Ukraine to hold presidential elections. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that if Ukraine wishes to conduct elections, Vladimir Putin would be prepared to halt strikes only on the single day of voting — and nothing more. This stance underscores Moscow’s consistent refusal to offer any meaningful pause in hostilities, even under the framework of temporary or limited arrangements proposed by Kyiv or Washington.
19-year-old suspect detained for plotting a bomb attack on bus full of soldiers
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has prevented an alleged Russian plot to bomb a bus carrying Ukrainian soldiers in the northwestern city of Rivne, detaining a 19-year-old student suspected of preparing the attack, the SBU and Rivne Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported on October 12.
According to investigators, the suspect planted an improvised explosive device under a bus transporting an entire unit of Ukrainian soldiers and installed a remotely accessible camera, disguised inside a juice box, opposite the parking area to monitor the vehicle. Russian intelligence operatives planned to detonate the bomb once the soldiers boarded and the bus began moving toward their permanent deployment location.
The young man was allegedly recruited through Telegram channels offering quick earnings and acted in exchange for money. After arriving in Rivne, he collected the explosives from a designated hiding place and planted the device, which was reinforced with two glass bottles filled with flammable liquid. SBU officers discovered the plot, neutralized the explosives, and detained the suspect at the city’s bus station as he attempted to leave for Kyiv. His phone, which he had used to report the planted device to his Russian handler, was also seized.
The suspect has been formally notified of suspicion of an attempted terrorist attack and ordered held without bail. If convicted, he faces up to eight years in prison and possible confiscation of property. The SBU noted that this is one of several alleged terrorist plots prepared by Russian intelligence services in Rivne this year.