Ukraine pauses strikes on Russian oil refineries after US pressure

Ukraine has temporarily halted attacks on Russian oil refineries following weeks of pressure from US President Donald Trump, according to The Wall Street Journal. The pause is expected to last until after the US midterm elections on November 3. The unofficial suspension began early last week amid a serious crisis in US-Ukraine relations, with Trump having called for removing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and SpaceX limiting Starlink use. Ukrainian officials have not officially announced the halt, and Reuters could not independently confirm the report. The refinery strikes were among Ukraine's most effective operations against Russia, aimed at reducing oil revenues funding Moscow's war effort. Ukraine previously rejected stopping the attacks, citing them as its only real response to years of Russian bombing.