Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces attacked a thermal power plant in Kharkiv and several other energy facilities after President Donald Trump declared an immediate halt to energy infrastructure strikes, raising questions about whether Moscow had agreed to the U.S.-announced ceasefire.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia on Monday, Oct. 12, of continuing attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure just hours after President Donald Trump announced that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to suspend strikes against each other’s energy facilities, casting doubt on the implementation of the proposed ceasefire.
The Ukrainian government reported attacks on at least six energy facilities, including a thermal power plant in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, despite Trump’s declaration Sunday that the two countries had reached an agreement effective immediately. Zelensky said Ukraine remained willing to halt attacks against Russian energy infrastructure but insisted that Moscow must stop targeting Ukrainian power stations, natural gas facilities and other critical systems in return.
The developments exposed disagreements over a ceasefire announcement that surprised Ukrainian officials and European allies, who said they had not received confirmation that Russia had accepted the arrangement. The diplomatic uncertainty has been compounded by a separate agreement between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin involving millions of tons of Russian diesel intended to ease international fuel shortages.
According to Reuters’ reporting on the strikes and diplomatic dispute, Russian drones and missiles targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure overnight, causing damage and power disruptions in several areas. Ukrainian officials said the attacks demonstrated the need for enforceable commitments rather than unilateral ceasefire announcements.
Among the reported targets was a thermal power plant in Kharkiv, a major industrial city near the Russian border that has endured repeated attacks on its electrical and heating infrastructure since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukrainian authorities also reported strikes affecting a natural gas facility and a civilian fuel station. The attacks were part of a broader wave of Russian aerial operations that resulted in casualties and damaged civilian infrastructure.
Zelensky responded by questioning whether Putin had agreed to the arrangement announced by the White House.
“It is clear that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin does not read Truth Social, and his ‘shahed’ drones follow a different set of instructions,” Zelensky wrote Monday on X.
“But we in Ukraine immediately supported the idea of an energy ceasefire, as we did more than once for months when we ourselves put forward this idea. We agreed to an energy ceasefire.”
The Ukrainian president said his government was prepared to suspend attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy installations, provided that Russia made a comparable commitment to protecting Ukrainian infrastructure.
“But if Russia wants us to stop our long-range strikes against its oil refineries and oil exports, then Russia must stop its strikes against our energy system and critical infrastructure. This is only fair,” Zelensky added.
His comments underscored Kyiv’s position that any suspension of energy-related attacks must involve reciprocal obligations rather than restrictions imposed solely on Ukrainian military operations.
The dispute began Sunday when Trump announced on Truth Social that both countries had accepted a ceasefire covering attacks against energy infrastructure.
“Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump wrote.
The president provided few additional details about the agreement, including how compliance would be monitored, what infrastructure would be protected or whether representatives of both countries had formally approved its terms.
Zelensky subsequently said the announcement had come as a surprise to his government.
In remarks reported by CBS News and The Associated Press, the Ukrainian president indicated that he had learned of the purported agreement through public reporting rather than a finalized diplomatic arrangement communicated to Kyiv.
The lack of confirmation became more significant after Russian forces continued striking Ukrainian facilities.
Speaking Monday at the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland, Zelensky reiterated his willingness to support a reciprocal halt to attacks but said he had received no indication that Moscow had formally accepted the proposal.
“We support it, but I have not heard approval of this proposal from the Russian side,” he said.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, did not confirm the immediate energy ceasefire described by Trump. Russian officials instead emphasized their preference for a broader settlement of the war.
That response left uncertainty over whether Washington had secured a binding commitment from Putin or announced a proposal that the conflicting parties had not yet formally accepted.
The distinction is consequential because Ukraine and Russia have repeatedly discussed limited arrangements involving energy facilities, transportation infrastructure and other civilian targets without achieving a lasting cessation of hostilities.
Previous diplomatic efforts have encountered disagreements over enforcement, military operations and the definition of facilities covered by any proposed restrictions.
Both countries have also accused the other of violating temporary understandings concerning attacks on energy infrastructure.
Ukraine maintains that its long-range strikes against Russian oil refineries and fuel installations are intended to weaken Moscow’s ability to finance and sustain its military campaign.
Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian power plants, electrical substations and natural gas infrastructure, reducing electricity availability and disrupting heating and industrial operations.
Those attacks have had significant consequences for Ukrainian civilians, particularly during colder months when reliable electricity and heating become essential.
Kharkiv has been especially vulnerable because of its proximity to Russia and the repeated damage inflicted on its energy facilities.
The latest strike came as Ukraine prepares for another winter under wartime conditions, increasing concern about the resilience of its electricity generation and distribution networks.
For Kyiv, the proposed energy ceasefire could provide important relief if Russia stopped attacking power stations and other essential infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials have nevertheless argued that suspending their own attacks without a verified Russian commitment would remove military pressure from Moscow while leaving Ukrainian facilities exposed.
That concern has become central to the growing disagreement between Zelensky and Trump.
The ceasefire announcement followed Trump’s separate agreement with Putin to increase Russian diesel supplies as the United States faces elevated fuel prices and disruptions in international energy markets.
On Friday, Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to American and global markets, with another 500,000 tons expected in November and 1 million tons afterward. Additional deliveries could bring the total to more than 4.8 million tons, according to the president’s announcement.
The administration has presented the arrangement as a way to increase available fuel supplies and relieve financial pressure on American consumers and businesses, particularly those dependent on diesel-powered transportation and equipment.
Diesel prices have risen amid the conflict involving Iran and disruptions to global energy markets. The increases have affected trucking, agriculture, manufacturing and other industries, creating additional political challenges for Trump ahead of the Nov. 3 congressional midterm elections.
The agreement with Russia has generated criticism because Washington has maintained restrictions on Russian energy imports since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
According to an Associated Press account of the diesel agreement, the administration authorized a temporary easing of restrictions to permit Russian diesel transactions. The decision represented a significant change in Washington’s approach to limiting Russian energy revenue during the war.
Several American lawmakers from both parties have questioned whether the arrangement is consistent with federal sanctions legislation and whether additional Russian fuel sales could help finance Moscow’s military operations.
Ukraine has raised similar objections.
Zelensky has argued that allowing Russia to increase energy exports could provide Moscow with additional revenue while reducing the economic consequences of Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries.
The Ukrainian military has expanded long-range drone attacks on Russian oil-processing facilities and associated infrastructure in recent months, seeking to interfere with fuel production and distribution important to Moscow’s military and economy.
Trump has criticized those operations, arguing that they are contributing to higher international diesel prices at a time when American households and businesses are already experiencing increased energy costs.
The president has called on Zelensky to suspend attacks on Russian refineries, while Ukrainian officials maintain that Moscow must first agree to stop its own campaign against Ukraine’s energy network.
That disagreement has become a major source of friction between Washington and Kyiv.
Zelensky has rejected the suggestion that Ukraine bears primary responsibility for higher global fuel prices, pointing instead to the conflict in the Middle East and disruptions involving international oil supplies.
The Ukrainian government has also argued that strikes against Russian energy facilities are a legitimate wartime response to Moscow’s repeated attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
Those competing positions have complicated Trump’s attempt to use energy negotiations as part of a broader diplomatic effort to end the war.
The president has repeatedly expressed confidence that his relationship with Putin can help produce agreements between the two countries. However, the lack of confirmation from Moscow concerning the latest ceasefire has raised questions about the extent of Russia’s commitments.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that discussions involving energy infrastructure were continuing but stopped short of confirming the immediate truce announced by Trump.
Peskov also indicated that Moscow preferred negotiations aimed at a broader political settlement rather than a limited suspension of hostilities.
That position differed from Trump’s declaration that both parties had already agreed to stop attacking energy facilities.
The disagreement became more pronounced as Ukrainian officials reported additional Russian airstrikes.
In Kharkiv, emergency personnel responded to attacks that damaged residential buildings and other infrastructure, while authorities reported civilian casualties and injuries.
Local officials said at least three people were killed during overnight attacks, with further strikes Monday morning injuring at least 22 others. Additional fatalities were reported Sunday in the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk.
Not all those casualties were necessarily caused by strikes against energy facilities, but the attacks demonstrated that Russian aerial operations were continuing despite the announced arrangement.
The latest bombardments also followed two weeks of renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine’s electrical network, which have caused recurring power outages in Kyiv and disrupted essential municipal services.
Interruptions to electricity have affected water and wastewater systems, while damage to infrastructure has caused disruptions to public transportation.
The continuing attacks have increased concern about the condition of Ukraine’s power grid as colder weather approaches.
Repeated damage to generation facilities, transformers and distribution systems has forced Ukrainian authorities to carry out extensive emergency repairs while preparing for further disruptions.
An enforceable ceasefire covering those facilities could provide an opportunity to strengthen the energy network before winter, but Ukrainian officials argue that such an arrangement must involve demonstrable Russian compliance.
European governments have also expressed skepticism about the ceasefire declaration.
Several European leaders have supported the principle of halting attacks on energy infrastructure while emphasizing that Moscow must participate in a verifiable agreement.
The European Union responded to continued Russian military operations Monday by announcing an expanded package of sanctions targeting individuals and businesses associated with Russia.
The measures added 1,569 names to the bloc’s sanctions list, representing what European officials described as the largest single expansion since the full-scale invasion began.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said continued economic pressure was necessary to encourage Moscow to negotiate seriously.
The European response illustrated a widening difference between Washington’s decision to permit additional Russian diesel sales and the European Union’s effort to increase financial pressure on Moscow.
European officials maintain that sanctions are intended to reduce Russia’s ability to finance its military campaign and encourage negotiations that protect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The United States, meanwhile, has argued that increasing international fuel supplies is necessary to address economic pressures affecting American consumers.
Those competing priorities have made the proposed energy ceasefire more politically complicated than a conventional agreement to suspend military operations.
The dispute has also intensified tensions over Ukraine’s political leadership.
Over the weekend, Trump called on Ukrainians to choose a new president, criticizing Zelensky’s approach to negotiations with Moscow and urging a change in leadership.
The remarks represented a significant escalation in the administration’s public disagreements with the Ukrainian president.
Zelensky responded that Ukraine’s leadership must be chosen by Ukrainian voters rather than foreign governments.
He also said elections could be organized if Russia agreed to a comprehensive ceasefire lasting at least 60 days.
Ukraine has not conducted a presidential election since the full-scale invasion began because martial law restrictions prohibit national elections during wartime.
Ukrainian officials maintain that holding an election while large areas of the country remain under occupation or subject to military attacks would create serious security and logistical challenges.
Those difficulties include protecting polling places, ensuring participation by military personnel and displaced citizens, and establishing voting procedures for Ukrainians living abroad.
Zelensky said a sustained ceasefire would provide an opportunity to address those challenges and organize an election.
The Kremlin rejected his proposal for a comprehensive 60-day ceasefire, leaving the political dispute unresolved.
The tensions between Trump and Zelensky have raised additional concerns among Ukraine’s European supporters about the future of American assistance.
According to Reuters, a person familiar with the situation said Washington had threatened to restrict intelligence sharing and mechanisms allowing European governments to purchase American weapons for Ukraine as part of its pressure campaign over attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
The administration has not publicly announced the implementation of those measures.
Such restrictions could have consequences for Ukraine’s military operations, particularly its ability to detect threats and obtain equipment needed to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks.
The broader diplomatic situation remains uncertain because the proposed energy ceasefire has not been accompanied by a publicly released agreement explaining the obligations of either side.
A workable arrangement would require agreement on which facilities are protected, when restrictions take effect and how alleged violations would be investigated.
Without those provisions, conflicting accounts of attacks could undermine confidence in the arrangement and complicate attempts to secure a longer suspension of hostilities.
Zelensky’s position remains that Ukraine is prepared to stop attacking Russian energy installations if Moscow accepts equivalent limitations.
The Kremlin has acknowledged continuing discussions but has not confirmed that the arrangement announced Sunday is in force.
Trump, meanwhile, has maintained that increased Russian diesel supplies could help address global fuel shortages while creating opportunities for further negotiations.
The latest Russian strikes demonstrate the gap between the White House’s announcement and conditions on the ground.
They also highlight the risks facing Ukrainian civilians as power stations, heating facilities and other essential infrastructure remain exposed to attacks.
For Ukraine, the immediate priority is obtaining a verified commitment from Moscow to stop targeting those systems. For Washington, the challenge is reconciling efforts to reduce fuel prices with its diplomatic role in a war that has continued for more than four years.
As of Monday, there was no independently confirmed, mutually implemented ceasefire protecting energy infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia. Kyiv continued reporting attacks, Moscow had not endorsed the agreement in the terms announced by Trump, and diplomatic discussions remained unresolved.
The developments leave the proposed truce uncertain while demonstrating the difficulties of achieving even a limited suspension of attacks during the continuing war.
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