Russia’s Fresh Strikes Leave 600,000 Without Power as Zelenskyy Accuses Moscow of Defying Trump’s Ceasefire

Fresh Russian missile and drone attacks have killed people in Ukraine and damaged dozens of energy facilities, leaving at least 600,000 people without electricity as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Moscow of undermining US President Donald Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire.

The attacks, which struck Kyiv and Kharkiv overnight into Wednesday, October 14, have intensified concerns about Ukraine’s electricity and heating supplies ahead of winter. Ukrainian officials said three people were killed and around 30 energy facilities were damaged. Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed strikes on several power plants, while Ukrainian authorities reported damage to railway infrastructure in five regions.

Zelenskyy described the latest bombardment as a deliberate show of disrespect towards Trump and the United States. He argued that the strikes undermined the US president’s announcement that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking energy infrastructure.

Trump announced the proposed ceasefire on Sunday, October 11, saying it would take effect immediately. However, neither Moscow nor Kyiv had publicly confirmed a formal agreement, and the terms of the arrangement remained unclear. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to observe an energy truce if Russia also stopped its attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities.

The dispute comes amid wider tensions over US policy towards the war. Trump has urged Ukraine to stop attacking Russian oil refineries and has defended easing US sanctions on Russian diesel exports, arguing that the move could help reduce fuel prices. Zelenskyy has rejected the suggestion that the sanctions relief would significantly lower US prices, warning that additional revenue could help Russia finance its war effort.

Questions have also emerged over intelligence sharing between Washington and Kyiv after Ukrainian officials complained that they received no advance warning from Western partners before earlier missile attacks. Trump said on Tuesday that the United States was still sharing intelligence with Ukraine and working with both sides to end the conflict.

The latest strikes highlight the difficulties facing efforts to secure even a limited ceasefire. With winter approaching, damage to power plants and other essential infrastructure could leave more Ukrainian households facing electricity shortages and heating disruptions.

Zelenskyy has said Ukraine remains open to an energy truce, but the continuing attacks and lack of publicly confirmed terms leave uncertainty over whether the proposal can reduce hostilities. Diplomatic contacts are expected to continue as Ukraine seeks further support from the United States and its European allies.

For now, the fighting continues, with the future of the proposed ceasefire and the protection of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure remaining central to efforts to limit further civilian suffering.