Zelensky says Ukraine paused refinery strikes for 72 hours

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv halted attacks on Russian oil refineries for the first 72 hours of a proposed energy truce, while Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continued. His account differs from a report that Ukrainian units were later ordered to suspend refinery attacks for a longer period, a claim that could not be independently verified. Zelensky described the three-day pause at a closed-door briefing on October 27. He said Ukrainian forces focused on other targets during that period and were not instructed to stop responding to Russian attacks. He also cited an October 15 operation against the Ryazan oil refinery, along with strikes on data centers and sites where Russian ballistic missiles were concentrated. A separate report, citing people familiar with Ukrainian long-range operations, said units were told in mid-October to put refinery strikes on hold after missions already underway were completed. The reported pause was expected to last beyond the U.S. midterm elections and potentially into November. The account was not independently verified, and it remains unclear whether Ukraine maintained a pause beyond the 72 hours Zelensky...