In brief
Minutes after Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire, Russia bombed six Ukrainian energy sites, causing blackouts and 33 injuries. President Zelensky condemned the attacks and claimed they were a "Putin‑backed retaliation." European and U.S. officials responded with varied support, while Russia dismissed the truce as ineffective. The incident underscores the fragile nature of any ceasefire amid the ongoing conflict.
In the early hours of Monday, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of an energy ceasefire, Russian forces struck six key energy facilities across Ukraine, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The attacks included gas stations, power plants and other infrastructure, resulting in widespread blackouts in cities such as Izyum, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. State grid operator Ukrenergo confirmed new power cuts caused by damage to equipment.
Zelensky said 33 people were injured in the strikes and accused Russia of refusing the ceasefire, calling the strikes “a Putin‑backed reply” to Trump’s call. “We did not attack, while Russia attacked our gas stations, energy infrastructure, and other facilities,” he told Fox News.
The international reaction has been mixed. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and France, Canada, and the EU voiced support for a sustained energy ceasefire, while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas cautioned that the ceasefire would only be meaningful if Russia adhered to it. Estonia’s foreign minister criticized the ceasefire as “not working.”
The strikes come amid U.S. President Trump’s proposal to import Russian diesel into the United States, a move that temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian energy exports. Zelensky described the deal as a “gift” to Putin, underscoring the complex geopolitical dance around fuel supply during the conflict.
This episode highlights the fragile nature of any ceasefire amid the ongoing war, with energy infrastructure proving a high‑profile target for both sides.
