Russian missile and drone strikes left hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without electricity as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of disregarding President Donald Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire and called for a stronger international response.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Wednesday of continuing large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite President Donald Trump’s announcement of a proposed ceasefire, as overnight missile and drone strikes left at least 600,000 people without electricity.
Russian forces targeted power stations, oil facilities and natural gas infrastructure for a third consecutive night, according to Ukrainian officials, raising questions about whether Moscow intends to participate in the American president’s latest diplomatic initiative.
Trump announced Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure. However, the Kremlin has not confirmed a formal agreement, and Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov said discussions remain underway.
Ukraine has indicated its willingness to suspend strikes against Russian oil refineries if Moscow reciprocates, but Zelenskyy said continued Russian attacks demonstrate a lack of commitment to de-escalation.
“We ask America and EVERYONE in the world who does not turn a blind eye to reality to respond — and to respond forcefully,” Zelenskyy wrote Wednesday.
“Russia has squandered the opportunity for de-escalation and has clearly chosen to continue its insane war of annihilation,” he added.
According to Associated Press reporting, Russian forces launched 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones against Kyiv, the surrounding region and northeastern Kharkiv overnight.
Ukrainian officials reported that all three of Kyiv’s combined heat and power plants were struck. The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged targeting energy infrastructure, saying its forces attacked six power plants.
Kyiv police reported five deaths and 36 injuries following attacks extending from Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning.
The strikes damaged electricity generation facilities and disrupted essential services across several regions as colder weather approaches.
Zelenskyy called for additional American air defense assistance and stronger sanctions against Russia, arguing that Moscow’s continued attacks undermine Washington’s diplomatic efforts.
The escalation comes amid growing disagreements between Kyiv and Washington over Trump’s decision to permit imports of Russian diesel fuel, a move Ukrainian officials say could provide additional revenue for Russia’s military campaign.
Trump has also urged Ukraine to stop targeting Russian oil refineries, which have been struck repeatedly by Ukrainian drones in recent months.
Those attacks have contributed to fuel shortages in parts of Russia. Ukraine’s most recently reported refinery strike occurred Friday.
The Kremlin has not publicly committed to ending strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities, leaving the status of Trump’s proposed ceasefire unresolved.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials raised concerns Wednesday about unexpected restrictions affecting SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communications network, which Ukraine relies upon for military coordination and drone operations.
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Zelenskyy, said SpaceX imposed new speed restrictions on Starlink terminals mounted on drones, disrupting operations involving unmanned aircraft and battlefield logistics.
According to Reuters, Ukrainian military personnel reported intermittent connectivity losses when drones exceeded approximately 100 miles per hour.
“Obviously, this action cannot be a coincidence and is connected to the current political situation,” Beskrestnov said, without presenting evidence establishing why the restrictions were introduced.
SpaceX had not publicly explained the changes.
Concerns about American assistance intensified after Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Ukraine had not received its usual advance warning from international partners about incoming Russian missile strikes.
The president did not identify which countries had failed to provide warnings.
CBS News reported Wednesday that Ukrainian officials questioned explanations they received concerning the absence of warning information. However, Trump has maintained that the United States has not suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
A member of Ukraine’s parliamentary defense committee also told the Associated Press that intelligence cooperation with international partners remained operational.
Ukraine, meanwhile, continued launching drones against other targets inside Russia.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 902 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions, occupied Crimea and the Sea of Azov.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said hundreds of drones approached the capital region, with 180 intercepted near Moscow.
In Russia’s Saratov region, Governor Roman Busargin reported one death and damage to residential buildings.
State-controlled Sberbank acknowledged that a data center in the region had been targeted but said its banking systems continued operating normally.
Separately, Ukrainian Brig. Gen. Andrii Biletskyi claimed Ukrainian forces had recaptured 277 square kilometers of territory during an eastern counteroffensive that began this summer.
The territorial claim could not be independently verified, and Russian officials did not immediately respond.
Zelenskyy traveled to London Wednesday for talks with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham as European governments considered additional military assistance and sanctions against Moscow.
Ahead of the meeting, Burnham reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense.
“My message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer: We are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster in our support to back your courageous fight for peace in Europe,” Burnham said.
The British government announced plans to accelerate air defense deliveries and prepare additional sanctions and military support.
The latest developments underscore the challenges confronting Trump’s ceasefire initiative as Russia continues attacking Ukrainian infrastructure, Kyiv questions the reliability of American support and European governments seek to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses.
With the proposed energy truce still unconfirmed by Moscow, the conflict continues without a verified agreement to halt attacks on critical infrastructure.
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