U.S. threatens to halt intelligence sharing if Ukraine continues striking Russian refineries
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Smoke rises as flames engulf the Moscow Oil Refinery following a Ukrainian drone attack, September 20, 2026 (Photo: Social Media/via REUTERS)
The United States warned Ukraine that it would immediately cut off all intelligence sharing if strikes on Russian oil refineries continue, The Washington Post reported on October 14, citing a source familiar with the matter.
U.S. intelligence officials warned the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington that if there are more strikes on Russian energy sites, the U.S. would immediately halt all intelligence sharing. U.S. intelligence has not been cut off, at least not in full, but the threat remains, the source added.
“The warnings were so widespread that anyone with a Ukrainian-sounding last name got a call,” the WP’s source noted.
The Kyiv Independent, citing two Ukrainian officials, reported on October 12 that the Trump administration repeatedly threatened Ukrainian military commanders and government officials, demanding that they stop attacking Russian oil refineries. According to the sources, those who received such calls included deputy head of the President’s Office Pavlo Palisa and Commander-in-Chief Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later confirmed the information, but added that the U.S. had not acted on the warning to halt intelligence sharing.
U.S. threats to halt intelligence sharing
CNN, citing two European officials, reported on October 12 that the Trump administration warned Ukraine and European allies it could suspend intelligence sharing and European purchases of U.S. weapons for Kyiv unless Ukraine stops deep strikes on Russian energy sites.
Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv later that day. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that a red-level air raid alert could not be issued in time because the missiles were only detected while already in flight, with no advance notice of their launch. “We did not receive information regarding the launch. We are currently investigating the cause,” the Ukrainian Air Force reported.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later announced that international partners failed to warn Ukraine about the ballistic missile attack on Kyiv on the evening of October 12.
Trump later denied the assertions that Washington had halted intelligence sharing with Kyiv, telling reporters that the administration continues to support Ukraine. “No, we haven't. We help them,” Trump said. “We are helping them, and we are sharing Intel.”
Russia launched a series of fresh ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv overnight on October 13, killing three people and hitting a power plant and a high-rise residential building. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine received no advance warning from international partners, noting the missiles were detected only as they approached the capital. Towards morning, Russia launched a second wave of ballistic missile strikes targeting energy infrastructure across Kyiv and the surrounding region.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that while international partners did not initially provide a warning about the first Russian ballistic missile strike, they did send advance warnings for the subsequent three waves of attacks overnight on October 14.
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