Ukraine has accused Russia of ongoing strikes on its energy infrastructure, even after US President Donald Trump announced Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to cease targeting each other’s energy installations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian soldiers targeted at least six energy-related facilities in midnight and morning attacks on Monday, October 12. Strikes reported included a gas production plant and a petrol station that was attacked by drones, casting additional uncertainty on whether the agreed ceasefire would take effect.
Trump’s announcement over the weekend surprised Ukrainian officials and their European friends. He said the two sides had agreed to a halt to attacks on electricity infrastructure immediately but gave little information on the parameters or how compliance would be verified. Moscow has not openly said it will accept the deal.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to observe an energy ceasefire provided Russia ceased targeting Ukrainian power facilities and other energy infrastructure. “Kyiv did not bomb Russian refineries overnight,” he said, appealing on Washington to make sure Moscow abided by any deal.
The strikes have had grave implications for civilians. Russian strikes in Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv overnight killed at least three people, local officials said, while later strikes on residential structures wounded at least 22 more. Emergency crews fought fires and wreckage while rescue workers combed through wrecked structures. At least three further deaths were reported in the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk on Sunday.
Ukraine’s energy grid has been attacked repeatedly in recent weeks, leaving Kyiv with power disruptions and key services, including water supply and subterranean transport, disrupted. The new attacks have raised fears about the country’s ability to provide electricity and heating as winter sets in.
The Kremlin said talks were continuing on a possible energy ceasefire, but spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the idea of a wider temporary truce, saying Moscow sought a long-term peace pact instead. Russia has not said whether it accepted the plan Trump presented.
The row has also highlighted disagreements between Washington and Kiev regarding strikes on Russian oil refineries. Trump has urged Ukraine to halt attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, saying they are pushing up fuel prices. Zelenskyy has said any limit should be applied equally to Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid and energy facilities.
EU foreign ministers expressed scepticism about Moscow’s commitment to observe the suggested ceasefire and agreed a new package of penalties on Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the continuing attacks on Ukrainian civilian energy infrastructure strengthened the argument for sustaining pressure on Moscow.
The latest developments have cast doubt on the proposed energy truce, with Kyiv demanding specific guarantees of reciprocity and European nations wondering whether the statement can be turned into a verifiable halt to strikes.
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