KYIV, Ukraine | October 12, 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces struck at least six Ukrainian energy facilities after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an immediate ceasefire on attacks against energy infrastructure, raising fresh doubts about whether the proposed agreement has support from Moscow.
Zelenskyy said the strikes targeted energy infrastructure across Ukraine, including a gas production facility and a civilian petrol station. The attacks came within hours of Trump’s announcement that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop targeting each other’s energy systems.
The Ukrainian president said Kyiv had refrained from attacking Russian energy facilities following the announcement and remained willing to observe a mutual pause in such strikes.
However, Russia had not publicly confirmed that it had accepted the proposed arrangement.
Key Points
- Six energy facilities reportedly hit: Zelenskyy said Russian attacks targeted at least six energy sites across Ukraine.
- Ceasefire acceptance remains unclear: Trump announced an immediate agreement, but the Kremlin said discussions were continuing.
- Ukraine says it is willing to comply: Zelenskyy said Kyiv was prepared to stop attacks on Russian energy infrastructure if Moscow did the same.
- Civilian areas also affected: Russian strikes in Kharkiv caused deaths and injuries, according to Ukrainian authorities and international reporting.
Russia’s response leaves the ceasefire uncertain
Trump announced the proposed energy ceasefire on Sunday, October 11, saying it would take effect immediately and urging both sides not to violate it.
The announcement offered few details about how the arrangement would operate or how compliance would be monitored.
On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said contacts concerning a possible energy ceasefire were ongoing. He did not confirm that Russia had agreed to the arrangement.
The distinction is important because an announcement by Washington does not, by itself, establish that both warring parties have accepted or implemented a ceasefire.
Reuters and The Associated Press reported that Ukrainian officials continued to describe attacks on energy infrastructure after Trump’s announcement. The available public statements did not establish that a mutually accepted and operational agreement was in place.
Kharkiv among the areas affected by Russian attacks
Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, was among the locations affected by Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy told the Warsaw Security Forum that Ukraine had been surprised by strikes on a power plant in the northeastern city, as well as attacks involving gas infrastructure.
The Associated Press also reported that Russian strikes damaged residential buildings in Kharkiv. Ukrainian emergency officials said additional drone attacks on Monday injured people, including a child.
The incidents underline the wider consequences of continued attacks as Ukraine approaches another winter, when reliable electricity, heating and water supplies become especially important for civilians.
Russia has repeatedly attacked Ukrainian energy infrastructure during the war, while Ukraine has carried out strikes against Russian energy facilities, including oil refineries.
Both countries’ energy systems have consequently become part of the wider conflict, with attacks affecting infrastructure that supports civilian life as well as national energy supplies.
What the announcement means for the war
The immediate question is whether the United States can turn Trump’s announcement into an arrangement that both Russia and Ukraine explicitly accept and follow.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to respect a mutual pause in attacks on energy infrastructure. He argued that Russia’s continued strikes showed Moscow was not demonstrating the same commitment.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also expressed doubts about whether Russia would respect the proposed ceasefire, according to the Associated Press.
The uncertainty is not entirely new. Trump announced a similar understanding about stopping attacks on energy infrastructure in September, but that announcement also lacked sufficient detail to establish a durable, mutually confirmed arrangement.
For Ukraine, a functioning energy ceasefire could reduce damage to power generation, gas supplies and other essential infrastructure ahead of colder weather. For such an arrangement to work, however, both sides would need to agree on its terms and demonstrate that they were observing them.
As of Monday, October 12, the central issue remained unresolved: Ukraine was reporting fresh attacks after Trump’s announcement, while Moscow had not publicly confirmed that it had accepted the proposed ceasefire.
Sources: Reuters, The Associated Press and statements attributed to Ukrainian and Russian officials.
