Russian Strikes Hit Ukrainian Energy Sites Following Trump Ceasefire Announcement
The strikes expose fractures in diplomatic efforts as Kyiv reports attacks on power infrastructure despite Washington declaring an immediate halt to mutual energy bombardments.
Russian forces launched strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure immediately after United States President Donald Trump announced an immediate bilateral energy ceasefire. The attacks on Kharkiv and other regions occurred after Trump claimed on Truth Social that both nations had agreed to the truce.
A Russian strike hit the CHP-5 combined heat and power plant in the northeastern city of Kharkiv. Additional overnight attacks hit a domestic gas production facility and a civilian petrol station. Parts of Kyiv and Kharkiv suffered electricity and water disruptions as emergency repair crews worked on damaged infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government was not consulted beforehand and learned of the agreement from media reports. Speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, Zelenskyy said Russian President Vladimir Putin does not read Truth Social. He argued that any truce requires enforcement by the United States rather than social media declarations.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine refrained from attacking Russian oil refineries overnight. He said Kyiv is ready to halt energy strikes reciprocally if Moscow stops its attacks and provides real guarantees. Official Ukrainian counts show Russian strikes killed over 150 civilians and injured more than 700 people at energy facilities during the previous week.
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm the operational status of the energy ceasefire. Peskov stated that contacts continue and that Russia seeks lasting peace rather than temporary truces. He also rejected a Ukrainian proposal for a 60-day ceasefire to hold presidential elections, alleging Kyiv wanted time to regroup and continue the war.
Peskov said Putin would order strikes halted only on election day itself if Ukraine votes. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged Washington to maintain and expand sanctions on Russia. Kallas noted that national constitutions typically prevent holding elections during wartime.
The announcement followed controversy over Trump lifting certain sanctions on Russian fuel to import diesel before American midterm elections. Ukrainian officials condemned the purchase deal, stating the revenues directly subsidize Moscow's invasion. Trump had previously criticized Ukrainian refinery strikes and called for leadership changes in Kyiv.
Kyiv said it is waiting for the American administration to deliver the exact framework and enforcement terms for the proposed truce. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will continue retaliatory drone strikes against Russian refineries unless Moscow formally halts aerial attacks on power networks. Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers approved a fresh sanctions package targeting Russia's military-industrial complex.
