Daijiworld Media Network - Kyiv
Kyiv, Oct 12: Russian strikes hit multiple Ukrainian power plants on Sunday, hours after US President Donald Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate ceasefire on attacks against each other's energy infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
In a social media post, Zelensky said a Russian drone had struck a power plant in Kyiv, causing power outages in the Ukrainian capital.
Shortly afterwards, he reported a strike on the CHP-5 power plant in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. He added that Ukrainian skies had been filled with Russian Shahed drones throughout the day.
Trump had announced on Sunday morning in Washington that an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine would take effect immediately.
“Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform, without providing further details about the agreement.
Zelensky expressed surprise at the announcement and said he was seeking clarification. Russia had not publicly confirmed its agreement to the proposed ceasefire at the time of his remarks.
“Ukraine supports the ceasefire, and it is important that Russia support it as well,” Zelensky said on Facebook after speaking with the leaders of Canada and Finland and representatives of NATO.
The announcement came two days after Trump declared a temporary easing of US sanctions on Russian diesel exports. The move drew criticism from Ukraine and its European allies, who argued that easing the restrictions could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump, whose war against Iran has contributed to global oil supply concerns, has blamed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries for pushing diesel prices higher. Rising fuel prices have emerged as a potential political concern for his party ahead of next month's US elections.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, disrupting electricity and heating supplies for millions of people, particularly during winter.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has systematically targeted Russian oil refineries, saying the facilities help finance Moscow's war effort.