Ukraine has resumed drone attacks on Russian oil refineries after a brief pause, raising concerns that the strikes could affect Moscow's planned diesel exports to global markets, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.

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Novak said overnight attacks targeted three oil refineries and a gas-chemical complex. There was no immediate response from Ukraine.

"We had a lull that lasted a certain time, but today the attacks on oil refineries resumed," Novak told a reporter from Russian state television.

Videos shared by Russian Telegram channels purportedly showed smoke rising from an oil refinery in the Samara region, around 800 km from the Ukrainian border, following a drone attack.

Regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said two men were killed in a Ukrainian drone strike. The circumstances of their deaths were not independently confirmed.

Novak cautioned that the latest strikes could affect Russia's planned diesel shipments, although he expected any reduction to be limited.

Russia shipped around 510,000 tonnes of diesel to global markets in October under a deal with US President Donald Trump, Novak said. Moscow is planning to increase exports to around 2.15 million tonnes in November.

The deputy prime minister warned that Ukrainian attacks on refineries could reduce these volumes and affect global markets.

Trump had urged Kyiv to halt refinery strikes

The renewed attacks come after Trump had repeatedly pressed Kyiv to stop targeting Russian oil facilities, linking the strikes to rising diesel prices.

Earlier in October, Trump reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease sanctions on Moscow in exchange for increased diesel supplies to global markets. The deal drew criticism from Kyiv and Ukraine's European allies.

Trump later announced an 'energy ceasefire' between Russia and Ukraine. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had not been informed of the arrangement.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil and gas infrastructure in retaliation for Russian attacks on its own energy facilities since Moscow launched its full-scale offensive in February 2022.

Analysts have also linked rising fuel prices to the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in February, adding to pressure on global energy markets.

With AFP inputs