Russia has continued attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that Moscow and Kyiv had agreed to an immediate ceasefire on energy facilities, raising doubts about whether the proposed agreement will be respected as winter approaches.
Ukrainian officials said Monday that Russian forces struck an energy facility on the outskirts of Kharkiv, a major city in northeastern Ukraine. The attack came a day after Trump announced that the two countries had agreed to stop targeting each other’s energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the announcement but said Russian attacks were still being reported in Kyiv, the capital, and Kharkiv. He urged Trump to pressure Moscow to honor the proposed agreement, saying Ukraine was prepared to stop striking Russian oil refineries if Russia halted its attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.
Trump announced the agreement in a social media post on Sunday, saying it took effect immediately. However, he provided few details about its terms or how compliance would be monitored.
A similar announcement by Trump on September 14, in which he claimed Russia and Ukraine had agreed not to attack each other’s energy infrastructure, did not result in a sustained halt to the strikes.
European Union Questions Russia’s Commitment
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, welcomed the prospect of a pause in attacks on energy facilities but expressed doubts about whether Russia would comply.
Speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, Kallas said there was no clear evidence that Moscow would respect the proposed ceasefire. She also stressed that any meaningful ceasefire should extend beyond energy infrastructure to protect human lives.
Kallas called on European countries to maintain their support for Ukraine, arguing that continued pressure on Russia was necessary to bring the war to an end.
“Russia has started this war,” she told reporters, adding that Moscow should be pressured to stop fighting so that Ukraine would no longer need to defend itself against the invasion.
She also rejected calls for Ukraine to hold a new presidential election while the war continues, saying elections should take place only after a ceasefire is established.
Dispute Over U.S.-Russia Diesel Deal
The debate over the proposed energy ceasefire comes amid controversy surrounding a reported agreement between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin for the United States to purchase diesel from Russia in an effort to address high fuel prices ahead of U.S. midterm elections.
The reported deal has drawn criticism from Ukrainian and European officials, who argue that purchases of Russian energy products could provide Moscow with additional revenue to support its war effort.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna questioned whether the arrangement would significantly reduce fuel prices, suggesting that it was more closely connected to domestic political considerations in the United States.
Trump has also criticized Zelenskyy over his handling of the war and said Ukraine should consider electing a new president. European officials, however, have maintained that holding elections during an ongoing conflict would be difficult without a ceasefire.
Deadly Drone Attacks Continue
Meanwhile, Russian attacks have continued to cause casualties and damage across Ukraine.
According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, a Russian drone strike on the village of Pisochyn on Sunday evening killed three people and injured nine others, including children.
Investigators said the attack occurred at approximately 7:25 p.m. in a densely populated area near apartment buildings and grocery stores, triggering a fire.
Ukraine’s Air Force said its air defence systems intercepted or suppressed 89 of the 121 Russian drones launched overnight into Monday. The attack also involved a Kh-59 guided air to surface missile and included 76 jet powered Shahed type drones.
Strikes were recorded at 15 locations, while debris from intercepted drones fell at four other sites, according to the Ukrainian military.
Russia’s Defence Ministry, meanwhile, said its air defence systems intercepted 151 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian regions, Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014, and waters of the Black Sea.
Energy Infrastructure Remains a Key Target
Since Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, attacks on energy facilities have repeatedly threatened electricity, heating and water supplies for Ukrainian civilians.
Ukrainian officials have accused Moscow of using such strikes to weaken public morale, particularly during the winter months, when damage to power and heating systems can leave households vulnerable to freezing temperatures.
Ukraine has also carried out attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, including oil refineries, sometimes deep inside Russian territory.
Whether the latest ceasefire announcement will lead to a genuine reduction in attacks remains uncertain, as Ukrainian officials continue to report strikes and European leaders question Moscow’s willingness to comply.
For now, the continued attacks underscore the challenges facing diplomatic efforts to reduce the fighting and protect civilians as the war continues.
