Following the resumption of massive strikes on Russian oil refineries, Ukraine continues to seek ways to increase military aid from the U.S. and its European partners. At the same time, the unrest in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka – which was accompanied by attacks on law enforcement officers and journalists – has already become a pretext for anti-Ukrainian statements abroad.
On 24 Channel, host Ihor Gavryshchak analyzed the new series of Ukrainian strikes against the Russian oil industry, the prospects for negotiations in Abu Dhabi, and changes in U.S. policy. He also explained why he considers the unrest in the Kyiv region to be an organized campaign, who might have had an interest in carrying it out, and how these events were exploited by opponents of aid to Ukraine.
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Ukraine Launches New Strikes Against Russia’s Largest Oil Refineries
On the night of November 3, the Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked the Yaroslavl oil refinery “Slavneft-YANOS.” It is one of the five largest enterprises in the industry in Russia, capable of refining approximately 15 million tons of crude oil annually.
The facility produces gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, as well as other petroleum products for central and northwestern regions of Russia. The Yaroslavl refinery is of particular importance for fuel supplies to Moscow and the Moscow region.
The day before, the Ukrainian military also struck the Kstovo Oil Refinery in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The Ryazan Oil Refinery is another facility on which the Russian capital relies heavily for its fuel supply.
Gavryshchak noted that this new series of attacks differs from previous campaigns. Whereas previously the Ukrainian military focused primarily on individual processing units, the strikes now target various parts of the oil refineries.
Previously, the attacks were effective and precise: they targeted a specific primary refining unit. But now they’re taking out everything – primary and secondary refining facilities, storage tanks. As I understand it, the goal of each attack is to inflict maximum damage on a critical facility
At the Yaroslavl plant, according to the host’s data, the AVT-3 and AVT-6 units were hit. Such equipment is used in the initial stages of oil refining, so damage to it can affect the operation of subsequent production lines.
Attacks on Russian oil infrastructure have been ongoing since October 30. As of November 3, strikes had been taking place for the fifth consecutive day, and among the next possible targets, Gavryshchak named facilities in Ryazan and Kirishi in the Leningrad Oblast.
The host speculated that the Ukrainian military would continue to focus on facilities critical to supplying major Russian cities. He paid particular attention to facilities responsible for fuel deliveries to Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The oil industry remains a major source of revenue for the Russian budget, which funds the war. Despite the Kremlin’s attempts in recent years to reduce the state’s dependence on oil for revenue, large-scale damage to these facilities could create problems for both exports and the domestic market.
Fuel shortages are intensifying in Russia
Russian consumers are already feeling the effects of the strikes on oil refineries. According to data cited by Gavryshchak, St. Petersburg has experienced difficulties supplying diesel fuel to gas stations.
The situation is complicated by restrictions on petroleum product exports, which the Russian authorities have imposed until January 2027. At the same time, the Kremlin has allowed for certain exceptions, permitting specific companies to make deliveries under special authorizations.
The host cited potential agreements to supply Russian diesel to the U.S. as an additional factor. Although such volumes may be insignificant for the American market, they could place an additional strain on Russia, which is facing production disruptions.
In St. Petersburg, 40% of gas stations are out of diesel fuel. How is that possible? And the Russians have also banned the export of petroleum products until January 2027. These are huge problems for Putin
Continued attacks could affect not only the availability of gasoline and diesel but also Russia’s export revenues. This is particularly true for companies that handle large volumes of refining and supply petroleum products to other regions.
Seaports remain another area of economic pressure. Gavryshchak mentioned Russian facilities in the Baltic Sea, Novorossiysk, and the Azov Sea ports, through which export shipments are carried out.
According to him, following Ukraine’s “Molochka” operation, Russian ports on the Sea of Azov were unable to fully ship grain for some time starting July 10. Their operations were later resumed, while Ukraine’s port infrastructure continues to suffer from Russian strikes.
Gavryshchak advocates continuing operations against Russian export capabilities. At the same time, the issue of strikes on oil infrastructure is directly linked to diplomatic contacts between Ukraine and the U.S., as the Donald Trump administration had previously called on Kyiv to limit such attacks.
Zelenskyy Refuses to Hold Phone Talks with Putin
On November 3, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Berlin, where he met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The German side promised Ukraine a winter support package, and in the coming weeks, Berlin also plans to discuss security guarantees with the participation of the Coalition of the Willing.
During the visit, the Ukrainian president explained why he does not intend to call Vladimir Putin. The day before, the Russian dictator’s adviser, Yuri Ushakov, stated that Putin was ready to answer calls from foreign leaders.
However, previous phone calls have not led to a change in the Kremlin’s position. In particular, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke with Putin, and German politicians had held similar conversations earlier.
According to Gavryshchak, the Kremlin could use a call from the Ukrainian president not to seek compromises, but as an additional argument against a face-to-face meeting.
“Even if Kyiv had called Moscow, the Russians would then have argued that there’s no point in meeting in person. They’d say, ‘We’ve already had a phone conversation; everything is clear to everyone,’”
Moscow continues to invite Zelenskyy to the Russian capital, promising security guarantees. The Ukrainian president called such proposals destructive and recalled that in 2022, Russian troops had already tried to enter Kyiv uninvited.
Gavryshchak does not expect a face-to-face meeting between the presidents in the near future. He believes that Putin is not interested in such contact, since for him it would mean having to discuss specific agreements with the Ukrainian leadership.
Despite this, the diplomatic process continues. The U.S. side has already announced the date for the next round of talks involving Ukraine and Russia.
Moscow is resorting to stalling the negotiations
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff announced that working-level talks between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by the United States, will take place in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. Separately, U.S. representatives plan to meet in Brussels with partners from France, Germany, the EU, and NATO.
The Russian side has confirmed its participation in the meeting in the United Arab Emirates. Its delegation is to be led by Vladimir Medinsky, who previously represented the Kremlin in three rounds of talks in Istanbul in the spring and summer of 2025.
Medinsky is also involved in shaping Russian historical policy; in particular, he supports the dissemination in school curricula of claims that deny Ukraine’s independence. Gavryshchak doubts that negotiations with such a representative of the Kremlin can lead to real compromises.
Medinsky will come and once again recount some alternative history. What can you discuss with a person who teaches Russian children that Ukraine does not exist as a separate state and nation?
At the same time, Kyiv is interested in maintaining contacts with Washington due to its dependence on American weapons and military technology. Therefore, Ukraine will continue to participate in the negotiation process, even if the prospects for reaching agreements remain limited.
According to Bloomberg, as cited by the host, the Russian leadership no longer expects Donald Trump to force Ukraine to agree to territorial concessions. Washington is not issuing any such ultimatums to Kyiv and has so far not responded with demands regarding the resumption of Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Gavryshchak attributed this shift to the U.S. president’s political challenges ahead of the midterm congressional elections. In his view, Moscow is once again opting to drag out diplomatic talks while continuing military operations.
“They are reverting to their old tactics – dragging out negotiations and continuing the so-called special military operation,”
At the same time, Russia is seeking opportunities to develop economic relations with the U.S. Among the initiatives under discussion are a possible easing of sanctions against the Russian Direct Investment Fund led by Kirill Dmitriev and the idea of resuming Russian gas sales to Europe via Ukraine.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are involved in these discussions. Gavryshchak also mentioned reports of a meeting between Russian sports official Umar Kremlev and Trump’s son in Asia.
At the same time, Washington’s easing of political pressure on Kyiv is accompanied by new U.S. initiatives to fund military aid to Ukraine.
Congress Wants to Speed Up Arms Deliveries to Ukraine
During the U.S. midterm congressional elections on November 3, the issue of military support for Ukraine once again became a topic of discussion among American lawmakers. According to Bloomberg, the Donald Trump administration plans to ask NATO allies to increase funding for the program to procure American weapons for Kyiv.
This involves potentially securing an additional $2 billion. The funds are to be used to purchase the weapons Ukraine needs for its continued defense.
U.S. regulations governing the transfer of weapons to third countries remain a separate issue. Even after European partners purchase U.S. weapons for subsequent delivery to Ukraine, Washington’s authorization is required in certain cases.
U.S. senators have drafted a legislative initiative aimed at removing these restrictions. Its passage could allow European countries to transfer purchased weapons to Ukraine more quickly.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Tom Tillis also called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately allocate funds to assist Ukraine, particularly to protect the civilian population.
In addition, lawmakers raised the issue of $50 million previously earmarked for counter-narcotics programs in Europe. According to Gavryshchak, these funds were redirected to the Western Hemisphere, and the senators want an explanation for this decision.
The host noted that further aid to Ukraine will depend not only on which party holds the majority in Congress. Equally important are the positions of specific lawmakers who are able to reach agreements among themselves and push through the necessary decisions.
We’re all happy that the Democrats might defeat the Republicans in Congress. But not all Democrats are supporters of Ukraine. And the main question is whether the pro-Ukrainian coalition will be as strong as it was before
According to him, several experienced senators who have supported Ukraine for years are leaving Congress. Therefore, even if the party balance shifts in Kyiv’s favor, Kyiv will have to build relationships with new politicians.
Maintaining bipartisan support will be particularly important, as there are also influential supporters of Ukraine among the Republicans. Gavryshchak identifies working with the new Congress as one of the key tasks for Ukrainian diplomacy.
The unrest in Borshchahivka began with a suspicious incident
In Petropavlivska Borshchahivka, near Kyiv, a conflict erupted over a building where, according to reports, approximately 40 military personnel linked to cases of desertion were staying. After news of the building spread, people began to gather nearby, and the situation quickly escalated into clashes.
Some reports concerned the conditions under which the soldiers were being held inside the building. Gavryshchak emphasized that these circumstances must be investigated regardless of the further actions of those involved in the unrest.
If those 40 people were indeed held there for 37 days, or even a month and a half, that is unacceptable. This cannot be allowed to happen. Those responsible must be punished
Subsequent events were marked by damage to and arson of vehicles, eggs being thrown at law enforcement officers, and attacks on journalists. According to the host, a media professional he knew, who was working at the scene of the incident, was also injured.
Law enforcement officials reported that they had identified approximately 100 participants in the riots. Representatives of law enforcement agencies joined the investigation into the circumstances of the events, and Kyrylo Budanov stated that there were signs of outside influence on the situation.
Among the key figures was a woman who arrived at the premises dressed as a medical worker and in a vehicle resembling an ambulance. She appeared on the scene at the start of the conflict and actively urged those present to take action.
According to information provided by Gavryshchak, citing Budanov, the woman, along with her driver, had visited the area around the building at least three days before the incident to assess the situation. After her arrest, reports indicate that messages were found on her phone exchanged with the administrators of Telegram channels, who subsequently actively spread reports of the unrest.
At the same time, the motives behind her actions remained unknown at the time of the investigation. According to the host, most of the people inside the building did not require emergency medical care, which raised further questions about the purpose of the vehicle’s arrival.
Gavryshchak noted that organized groups of people quickly appeared around the building after the conflict began. He questioned whether this sequence of events was spontaneous and suggested that some participants may have been carrying out pre-determined tasks.
Who Might Have Orchestrated the Unrest in the Kyiv Region
Journalists from “Toronto Television” identified the man standing next to the woman in a medical uniform as Viktor Yena. According to information provided by Gavryshchak, he left his military unit without authorization and is a defendant in a criminal case involving fraud.
A number of administrative offenses linked to Yena were also reported. These included petty hooliganism, a traffic accident, driving under the influence, and violations related to a military servicemember being intoxicated.
Gavryshchak is examining this information in conjunction with the organized arrival of people and the rapid spread of reports about the conflict. In his opinion, the origin of such actions does not necessarily lie exclusively with Russian intelligence services.
“It’s not 100% the Kremlin’s doing. We have a fully developed industry of commissioning such actions with the aim of evading military service or freeing those who have left their military units without authorization,”
The host suggested that significant sums might be paid to organize such events. Among the possible clients, he sees people interested in securing the release of specific service members or putting pressure on government officials.
In his assessment, the organizers may deliberately recruit young men under the age of 21. Later, their young age is used in public explanations in an attempt to portray the participants in the clashes as children and downplay the seriousness of their actions.
This costs tens of thousands of dollars. Someone obviously had the means to pay for all of this. And they try to recruit young men under the age of 21 so that they can later say, “They’re just children”
Gavryshchak did not provide any concrete evidence of funding for the riots in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka. At the same time, he linked the possible organization of the protest to the activities of groups that had previously emerged during conflicts over mobilization in other cities.
In particular, the host mentioned widely circulated photographs of Viktor Yena standing next to Ostap Stakhiv in Lviv. Stakhiv had previously participated in campaigns against mobilization measures, and his activities have repeatedly been the subject of public controversy.
Gavryshchak believes that law enforcement should investigate possible connections between individuals who appear at such protests, as well as identify their organizers and sources of funding.
The story about the teenager was used against the Ukrainian military
One of the most widely discussed reports during the unrest was the story of the alleged detention and torture of a 14-year-old boy. The information spread rapidly on social media and sparked further outrage among those following the events.
Gavryshchak offered a different account of how the teenager ended up on the facility’s grounds. According to him, the boy was not among the soldiers being held inside the building; rather, he climbed over the fence on his own and joined the conflict.
“That’s all a lie. The 14-year-old boy climbed over the fence, was jumping around and spitting, and then got scared when the cameras appeared and Budanov approached him,”
The host suggested that after attracting the attention of officials and journalists, the teenager might have become afraid of the possible consequences. The circumstances of his presence on the premises and his state of health require separate investigation, but reports of alleged torture have already gained significant publicity.
The story quickly made its way into the international media. In particular, it was highlighted by Alice Weidel, co-chair of the German party “Alternative for Germany.”
The politician published a post about the events in the Kyiv region and raised the issue of the alleged mistreatment of conscripts. She called for the situation to be discussed during Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.
Gavryshchak drew attention to the political positions of “Alternative for Germany.” The party opposes further military aid to Ukraine, supports resuming purchases of Russian energy resources, and criticizes Germany’s spending to support Kyiv.
He also mentioned Elon Musk’s public support for this political party. According to the host, spreading unverified accusations against the Ukrainian military could strengthen the position of those who advocate for reducing international aid to Ukraine.
Weidel has already picked up on this story about the 14-year-old boy and the allegedly tortured conscripts. She is demanding that this issue be raised at the meeting between Zelenskyy and Merz. Do you understand how they’re exploiting this?
The German politician’s statements came during Zelenskyy’s visit to Berlin, where they discussed the winter aid package and further cooperation in the defense sector. Thus, an internal Ukrainian incident has become the subject of political debate in a country that remains one of Ukraine’s largest partners.
The host attributes the international attention to the rapid spread of messages via Telegram channels and the involvement of people who may have experience organizing such actions. He insists on the need to identify not only the direct participants in the riots but also those who coordinated their actions and provided media coverage.
According to Gavryshchak, law enforcement should investigate the organizers’ potential financial ties, the activities of individuals who presented themselves as medical workers, and the circumstances surrounding the recruitment of young men into the clashes. Reports of inadequate living conditions for military personnel on the premises should remain a separate subject of investigation.
Gavryshchak on the unrest in Borshchahivka: watch the video
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