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Russia Strikes Ukrainian Energy Sites and Apartment Block After Trump Ceasefire Announcement
Reporting based primarily on dailymaverick.co.za.
Russian Strikes Hit Energy Sites and Kill at Least Nine
Russia struck Ukrainian energy facilities and residential areas with drones and missiles, killing at least nine people, hours after US President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire agreement that Kyiv says Moscow is already violating. In Kyiv, a new Russian strike on a high-rise apartment block killed two people and injured at least nine, while attacks in other regions killed at least six people, officials said. [1] New strikes also targeted Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city in the northeast. Ukraine's Emergency Services said 11 people had been injured in evening attacks, including one strike which triggered the collapse of an entrance to an apartment building. [1] Overnight attacks killed at least three people in Kharkiv and further strikes in the morning wounded at least 22. Three people were killed near Kramatorsk, one of Ukraine's "fortress cities" in eastern Donetsk region that Russian forces have set their sights on in their slow advance westward. [1]
Zelenskiy Accuses Russia of Violating Trump's Ceasefire Deal
Zelenskiy stated Russia hit a gas facility and a petrol station with drones, and that it is clear Russia will not accept the US-proposed energy ceasefire. [1] "It is increasingly evident that Russia is unwilling to accept an energy ceasefire proposed by the United States and intends to continue its terrorist air attacks against our people and communities," Zelenskiy said on X. [1] "This is what happens when Russia sees the prospect of higher revenues for its war machine." [1] In earlier comments by video link to a conference in Poland, Zelenskiy identified two of the targets as a gas facility and a petrol station, both hit by Russian drones. [1] Zelenskiy said Ukraine had carried out no attacks on Russian refineries overnight and was willing to agree an energy ceasefire, but said it was "increasingly clear" Russia would not abide by it. [1] Zelenskiy accused Russia of continuing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, challenging President Donald Trump's announcement of an immediate ceasefire and raising questions about whether Moscow had agreed to halt the attacks. [2]
Eyewitness Account From Kharkiv Power Station Strike
In Kharkiv, Nataliia Minka said she had just made it to a shelter when a missile struck nearby. She and her child had seen what they believed to be a missile hitting a power station. [1] "Ten minutes had passed since they promised they wouldn’t target energy facilities," she said. [1] "It’s so hard to describe how a child was lying there, already covered up, and the father was running around her, crying and screaming," she added. [1] Russia began its latest strike campaign on Ukraine's grid two weeks ago, already causing daily, hours-long power cuts in Kyiv, affecting the capital's water and sewage systems and twice bringing its underground trains to an abrupt halt. [1]
Kremlin Rejects 60-Day Truce Proposal
Zelenskiy said Ukraine conducted no attacks on Russian refineries overnight and is willing to observe an energy ceasefire, but Russia rejected his proposal for a 60-day full truce, with the Kremlin stating it does not want a ceasefire. [1] Russia said talks were proceeding about a possible energy ceasefire, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said further information would be revealed in due course. [1] But he rejected Zelenskiy's proposal for a full 60-day truce. "In the Kremlin, both President (Vladimir) Putin and officials at other levels have repeatedly stated that we do not want a ceasefire," said Peskov. [1] "We want long-term peace and are prepared to do everything possible to achieve it." [1]
EU Approves Largest Sanctions Package
Trump's announcement followed a US diesel purchase deal from Russia that Zelenskiy criticized; European allies expressed skepticism, voiced support for Kyiv, and approved the EU's largest sanctions package since 2022. [1] Ukraine's European allies on Monday voiced scepticism of any such agreement, spoke in support of Kyiv and approved the largest set of EU sanctions since Russia's 2022 invasion. [1] "Russia will only negotiate seriously under pressure, which is why we are sticking to our sanctions against Russia," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. [1] To maintain pressure on Moscow, European Union foreign ministers on Monday added 1,569 new names to their sanctions list of banned individuals and businesses, billed as the largest single package to date. [1]
Context of Trump Diesel Deal and Strained Relations
Trump announced the purported energy ceasefire days after unveiling a deal to buy diesel from Russia, which Zelenskiy has criticised as a reversal of years of Western policy aimed at isolating Russia's economy. [1] Trump, for his part, has called on Ukrainians to unseat Zelenskiy in an election, an unusually severe exchange in a relationship between the two leaders that has been strained since Trump returned to power in 2025. [1] Russian President Vladimir Putin's point man for oil, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, said Moscow would be able to return diesel exports to levels above those Trump outlined under the diesel deal. [1] Trump defended the deal as US lawmakers from both major parties complained that it appeared to violate US law. [1] The president's envoys told Ukrainian officials last week that the deal sought to draw Russia back to talks on ending the war, three people familiar with the meeting told Reuters. [1] Trump's weekend announcement on an energy ceasefire was the second time within a few weeks that Trump had issued such a declaration without confirmation from the two warring sides. [1] Trump has increasingly blamed Kyiv's attacks on Russian refineries for surging global costs for fuel, especially diesel, which has hit record U.S prices since he launched his military campaign against Iran. [1] On Saturday, he said Zelenskiy had "better damn well stop" attacking Russian refineries. [1]
What to watch next: Russian President Vladimir Putin's point man for oil, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, said Moscow would be able to return diesel exports to levels above those Trump outlined under the diesel deal, while talks were proceeding about a possible energy ceasefire according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
