---
title: "Trump calls Ukraine refinery attacks 'disgraceful'"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-calls-ukraine-refinery-attacks-disgraceful"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/trump-calls-ukraine-refinery-attacks-disgraceful"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/trump-calls-ukraine-refinery-attacks-disgraceful.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/trump-calls-ukraine-refinery-attacks-disgraceful"
category: "Politics"
area: "Russia"
published: "2026-10-16T02:25:15.095Z"
source_reported: "2026-10-16T01:57:48.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-16T03:15:18.301Z"
trust_score: 62
critic_score: 87
hype_score: 25
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-10-16T03:15:16.436180+00:00"
---

# Trump calls Ukraine refinery attacks 'disgraceful'

*Former US president claims strikes are raising global oil prices and criticises Ukrainian leadership.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 62 of 100, higher is better. Trust 62 – named presidents quoted and corroborated by six outlets, no anonymous claims.
- Craft 87 of 100, higher is better. Critic 87 – explains relevance, quotes key figures, separates facts, provides specific names, clear narrative.
- Hype 25 of 100, lower is better. Hype 25 – mild emphasis, headline matches article without sensational language.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Donald Trump called Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries "disgraceful" in a Newsmax interview.
- Trump claimed these strikes are increasing global oil prices.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky resumed attacks on Russian refineries after a three-day pause.
- Trump also criticised President Zelensky's willingness to negotiate and called for elections in Ukraine.

Donald Trump has described Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries as "disgraceful". The former US president made the comments in an interview with Newsmax, stating that these strikes are raising global oil prices. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to resume attacks on Russian refineries on Thursday, following a three-day pause. Zelensky had initially halted strikes on Russian energy targets to comply with Trump's wishes. However, Russia continued its own attacks on Ukrainian energy production during this period.

## Disagreement on Zelensky's pause

Yle reports that President Zelensky paused attacks on Russian energy facilities to comply with Trump's wishes. Yle also states that Zelensky told The Financial Times that stopping energy strikes would encourage the US and Russia to make more energy deals. Other reports do not mention Zelensky's stated reasons for the pause or his comments to The Financial Times.

## What the coverage left out

None of the right-rated digests mention that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told The Financial Times that stopping energy strikes would encourage the US and Russia to make more energy deals. The right-rated digests also do not mention that Russia continued its own attacks on Ukrainian energy production during the three-day pause in Ukrainian strikes.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 19 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 16% (3)
- Centre: 16% (3)
- Right: 68% (13)

14 of 33 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-16T03:15:16.436180+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 5 times; 2 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-16T03:45:14.683Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- All three left‑rated outlets reported Trump’s Newsmax interview where he described the renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries as disgraceful and said Zelensky is harder to handle than Putin. Kyiv Post led on the interview, Le Monde’s digest repeated the same remarks, and fakti.bg’s digest echoed them.
- Kyiv Post added analyst commentary that the primary driver of the global price surge is the US‑Israel war with Iran, not the refinery attacks. It also noted Zelensky’s statement that the pause on attacks had ended and his call for a reciprocal energy ceasefire, linking the issue to broader NATO discussions.
- The digests from Le Monde and fakti.bg did not contain the analyst view or Zelensky’s comments that appear in Kyiv Post’s full report. None of the three left outlets mentioned any cost estimate for the strikes or presented a Russian perspective on the attacks.

### Centre

- The centre-rated report from Yle led with Donald Trump calling Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries "disgraceful". It included Trump's claim that these strikes are harmful because they affect the production of diesel fuel needed by the US and the world. Yle's report also detailed that President Zelensky decided to resume refinery attacks after a three-day pause, stating that Zelensky had initially halted strikes to follow Trump's wishes. The report quoted Trump criticising Zelensky, saying it is difficult to cooperate with him and that he does not want to reach an agreement. Yle also reported Trump's view that Russia's larger population gave it a military advantage over Ukraine and that Ukraine should hold elections.

### Right

- The right-rated reports focused on Donald Trump's criticism of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil facilities and his claims about rising oil prices. Several digests noted Trump's statement that these attacks are "disgraceful" or a "disgrace". The right-rated reports also highlighted Trump's assertion that Ukraine's President Zelensky is provoking a rise in oil prices and questioned Zelensky's willingness to end the war. Some reports mentioned Trump calling for elections in Ukraine.

**Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- veryLow: 1
- low: 1
- mixed: 5
- high: 8
- unknown: 14
- veryHigh: 4

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [noticiaslatam.lat](https://noticiaslatam.lat/20261016/me-parece-una-verguenza-trump-arremete-contra-zelenski-por-los-ataques-a-refinerias-1175460276.html) — "I Find It a Shame": Trump Attacks Zelenski for Attacks on Refineries
- [1news.com.ua](https://1news.com.ua/podii/tramp-zhorstko-krytykuye-zelenskogo-cherez-udary-po-rosiyi-osnovni-pretenziyi-do-ukrayiny.html) — Trump Harshly Criticizes Zelensky over Attacks on Russia: Main Claims to Ukraine
- [Le Monde](https://lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/10/16/trump-calls-renewed-ukraine-attacks-on-russian-refineries-a-disgrace_6758661_4.html) — Trump Calls Renewed Ukraine Attacks on Russian Refineries 'a Disgrace'
- [Обозреватель](https://obozrevatel.com/section-politics-news/news-tse-hanba-tramp-poskarzhyvsya-na-ukrayinski-udary-po-npz-rosiyi-i-nakynuvsya-na-zelenskoho-16-10-2026.html) — "It's a Shame": Trump Complained About the Ukrainian Strikes on Russia's Refineries and Came Down with Criticism of Zelensky.
- [ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84](https://athina984.gr/2026/10/16/tramp-kata-zelenski-ntropi-oi-oykranikes-epitheseis-se-rosika-diylistiria) — Trump to Zelensky: Ukrainian Attacks on Russian Refineries Are a "Shame"
- [Protothema](https://protothema.gr/world/article/1895733/trab-kata-zelenski-gia-tis-epitheseis-se-rosika-diulistiria) — Trump Slams Zelensky over Attacks on Russian Refineries: "Shame, It's Harder to Work with Him than with Putin"
- [Nettavisen](https://nettavisen.no/nyheter/en-skam-sier-trump-om-ukrainas-nye-angrep-mot-russiske-raffinerier/s/80-95-164658) — – A Shame, Says Trump About Ukraine's New Attack on Russian Refineries
- [Jowhar Somali Leader](https://jowhar.com/trump-calls-ukraines-attacks-on-russian-refineries-a-disgrace) — Trump Calls Ukraine’s Attacks on Russian Refineries “A Disgrace”
- [Nieuws.nl](https://nieuws.nl/buitenland/trump-haalt-uit-naar-zelensky-na-aanval-op-raffinaderijen-rusland) — Trump Lashes Out at Zelensky After Attacks on Russian Raff
- [welingelichtekringen.nl](https://welingelichtekringen.nl/samenleving/trump-haalt-uit-naar-zelensky-na-aanval-op-raffinaderijen-rusland) — Trump Lashes Out at Zelensky After Attack on Russian Refineries
- [El Comercio](https://elcomercio.pe/mundo/europa/guerra-rusia-ucrania-donald-trump-considera-una-verguenza-que-kiev-retome-ataques-contra-refinerias-rusas-volodymyr-zelensky-vladimir-putin-ultimas-noticia) — Trump Considers Ukraine to Be “a Disgrace” to Resume Attacks on Russian Refineries
- [dagelijksestandaard.nl](https://dagelijksestandaard.nl/nieuws/trump-haalt-uit-naar-zelensky-na-aanval-op-raffinaderijen-rusland) — Trump Lashes Out at Zelensky After Attack on Russian Refineries
- [Le Figaro](https://lefigaro.fr/international/plus-difficile-de-travailler-avec-zelensky-qu-avec-poutine-trump-juge-que-la-reprise-par-l-ukraine-des-frappes-sur-les-raffineries-russes-est-une-honte-20261016) — "More Difficult to Work with Zelensky than with Putin": Trump Believes that Ukraine's Resumption of Strikes on Russian Refineries Is a "Hont"
- [Kyiv Post](https://kyivpost.com/post/87217) — Trump Slams Ukraine’s Russian Oil Strikes, Criticizes Zelensky
- [EADaily](https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2026/10/16/tramp-osudil-udary-vsu-po-rossiyskim-npz-vopreki-prosbam-ssha) — Trump Condemned US Strikes on Russian NHPs, Despite US Requests.
- [zougla.gr](https://zougla.gr/kosmos/epithesi-trab-se-zelenski-gia-ta-pligmata-se-rosika-diylistiria) — Trump Attacks Zelensky over Strikes on Russian Refineries
- [RTÉ](https://rte.ie/news/2026/1016/1595586-ukraine-disgrace) — Ukraine strikes on Russia refineries 'a disgrace'
- [Welt](https://welt.de/politik/ausland/article6ad1855c199dc15f1abd5a8a/kriegswende-trump-nennt-ukrainische-angriffe-auf-russische-raffinerie-eine-schande.html) — Turn of the War: Trump Calls Ukrainian Attacks on Russian Refinery "a Shame"
- [BT](https://bt.dk/udland/trump-kalder-ukrainske-angreb-mod-rusland-for-en-skaendsel) — Trump Calls Ukrainian Attacks on Russia a Disgrace
- [Business Daily](https://businessdaily.gr/diethni/238341_nees-epikriseis-tramp-kata-zelenski-gia-tis-oykranikes-epitheseis-se-rosika) — Trump Again Criticizes Zelensky for Strikes on Russian Refineries
- [Clarin](https://clarin.com/estados-unidos/trump-considera-una-verguenza-que-ucrania-retome-ataques-contra-refinerias-rusas_0_5dbuQUFpfg.html) — Trump Considers Ukraine to Be "a Disgrace" to Resume Attacks on Russian Refineries
- [avisendanmark.dk](https://avisendanmark.dk/udland/trump-kalder-ukrainske-angreb-mod-rusland-for-en-skaendsel) — Trump Calls Ukrainian Attacks on Russia a Disgrace
- [berlingske.dk](https://berlingske.dk/internationalt/trump-kalder-ukrainske-angreb-mod-rusland-for-en-skaendsel) — Trump Calls Ukrainian Attacks on Russia a Disgrace
- [fakti.bg](https://fakti.bg/world/1090564-tramp-nareche-udarite-po-ruski-nefteni-predpriatia-pozor) — Trump Calls Strikes on Russian Oil Facilities 'Disgrace'
- [ERT NEWS](https://ertnews.gr/eidiseis/diethni/tramp-kata-zelenski-ntropi-oi-oukranikes-epitheseis-se-rosika-diylistiria) — Trump to Zelensky: Ukrainian Attacks on Russian Refineries Are a "Shame"
- [Free Malaysia Today News](https://freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/16/trump-calls-renewed-ukraine-attacks-on-russian-refineries-a-disgrace) — Trump calls renewed Ukraine attacks on Russian refineries ‘a disgrace’
- [France24](https://france24.com/en/europe/20261016-live-trump-calls-renewed-ukraine-attacks-on-russian-oil-refineries-a-disgrace) — Trump calls renewed Ukraine attacks on Russian oil ...
- [Interfax.ru](https://interfax.ru/world/1122803) — Trump Again Accused Zelensky of Provoking a Rise in Oil Prices
- [Deccan Chronicle](https://deccanchronicle.com/world/americas/trump-calls-renewed-ukraine-attacks-on-russian-refineries-a-disgrace-1996274) — Trump Calls Renewed Ukraine Attacks On Russian Refineries 'A Disgrace'
- [yle](https://yle.fi/a/74-20251739) — Trump: Ukraine's Attacks on Russian Oil Refineries Are "Disgraceful"
- [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/americas/trump-criticizes-zelenskyy-over-refinery-strikes-calls-for-elections-in-ukraine/4090469) — Trump Criticizes Zelenskyy over Refinery Strikes, Calls for Elections in Ukraine
- [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/10/16/2669657.html) — ‘I think that’s a disgrace’ — Trump slams Zelensky over refinery strikes
- [Apa](https://apa.az/america/tramp-ukraynanin-rusiya-neft-emali-zavodlarina-zerbelerini-biabirciliq-adlandirib-1005569) — Trump Calls Ukraine's Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries a Disgrace

## Questions

**What did Donald Trump say about Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries?**

Donald Trump described the Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries as "disgraceful" in a Newsmax interview. He claimed these strikes are raising global oil prices and are harmful because they affect diesel fuel production.

**Did Ukraine pause its attacks on Russian refineries?**

Yes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to resume attacks on Russian refineries after a three-day pause. He had initially halted these strikes to comply with Donald Trump's wishes.

**What else did Donald Trump say about Ukraine?**

Donald Trump also criticised Ukrainian President Zelensky, stating it is difficult to cooperate with him and that he does not want to reach an agreement. Trump also suggested that Ukraine should hold elections.

---

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