Trump Says Russia Lost Control of Diesel Industry After Strikes

President Trump said Monday that Russia has "lost control" of its diesel oil industry because of Ukrainian strikes on its refineries, and he renewed his call to end the war, according to the New York Post.

What did Trump say about Russia's diesel industry?

Trump posted on Truth Social that "Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry due to its War with Ukraine," adding that "a large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission," the New York Post reported. The president did not cite a specific figure for how many refineries have been hit or how much production capacity has been lost. He tied the disruption directly to Ukraine's long-range drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, which has intensified in recent weeks.

Why is Trump calling the war 'ridiculous'?

Trump framed the continued fighting in stark terms, writing that "this ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended," per the Post's account of his post. He linked the human toll directly to his call for a resolution, writing that "the whole World suffers as 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month. What a shame!" The Post did not attribute that casualty figure to an independent source; it appears only as Trump's own claim in his social media post.

"This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended." — President Trump, via Truth Social

How are diesel prices connected to the strikes?

US diesel prices hit $6.51 per gallon as of Monday morning, a record, the New York Post reported. Trump has repeatedly pressed Ukraine to halt long-range drone attacks on Russian oil facilities, arguing that a pause would let global energy markets stabilize. The Post's report does not specify what share of the price increase is attributable to the Russian refinery strikes versus other market factors, and no additional pricing data was provided in the source material.

The strikes themselves have produced visible damage. A photo distributed via social media and cited by the Post showed smoke columns rising after strikes on an oil refinery in Moscow, Russia, underscoring the scale of the attacks Trump referenced in his post.

What happens at the Trump-Zelensky meeting?

Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday, according to the Post. The report did not detail a formal agenda for the sitdown, but it comes as Trump has publicly pressed both sides — pushing Ukraine to curb drone strikes on Russian energy targets while separately calling for the war overall to end. The timing places diesel prices and refinery damage squarely in the backdrop of the UN gathering.

Is there a ceasefire or peace deal in place?

No. The Post's report, filed as a developing story, does not describe any ceasefire, negotiated settlement, or formal peace framework tied to Trump's Monday statement. His post amounts to a public appeal rather than an announced policy shift, and the outlet noted the story was continuing to develop as of publication.

What to watch next

• Whether Trump and Zelensky discuss the drone strikes on Russian refineries directly during their UN sidelines meeting Tuesday.
• Whether US diesel prices move further from the $6.51-per-gallon level reported Monday.
• Whether Ukraine adjusts the pace or targeting of its long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure following Trump's public appeal.
• Whether the Kremlin responds publicly to Trump's characterization that Russia has "lost control" of its diesel sector.

FAQ

Not all reader questions are answered in the available reporting, but two are addressed directly by the Post's coverage.

Did Trump specify how many refineries were struck? No. His post referenced "a large number" of diesel refineries being "blown up" and temporarily knocked offline, but he did not name specific facilities or provide a count, and the Post's report did not supply that detail independently.

Is the 25,000-a-month casualty figure independently confirmed? No. That number appears only in Trump's Truth Social post as reported by the Post. The outlet did not attribute the figure to the Pentagon, Ukrainian officials, or an independent monitor, and no corroborating source was included in the available reporting.

Did the Kremlin respond to Trump's post? The Post's report, filed as a developing story Monday morning, did not include any Russian government reaction to Trump's characterization of the diesel sector.