Russian forces attacked several Ukrainian power plants on Sunday, causing significant outages in Kyiv and hitting facilities in the eastern city of Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The strikes occurred shortly after former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed both sides had agreed to an “energy ceasefire,” a statement Ukraine says came as a surprise and Russia has not confirmed.
Zelenskyy described the Ukrainian skies as “infested with Russian ‘shaheds’ drones” throughout the day, emphasizing ongoing attacks despite the alleged truce. The strikes resulted in power disruptions in the Ukrainian capital and targeted the CHP-5 power plant in Kharkiv.
Casualties and Cross-Border Attacks
Russian bombardments on Sunday killed six people across two Ukrainian cities. In Kharkiv, a strike on a grocery store claimed three lives and injured 20, including two children, according to the regional governor. Separate attacks in western Ukraine also killed three individuals. Ukrainian drones reportedly killed one person in Russia’s Belgorod region near the border, and Moscow-installed officials in occupied parts of Donetsk said one person was killed in a Ukrainian attack.
International Reactions and Controversies
Trump’s announcement of an immediate “energy ceasefire” on his Truth Social platform drew skepticism from Ukrainian officials and was not confirmed by Moscow. The claim followed Trump’s announcement of a temporary easing of U.S. sanctions to allow the purchase of Russian diesel fuel, triggering sharp criticism from Ukraine and European allies including Canada and the European Union. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated the diesel deal contradicted efforts to stabilize Europe, while the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed support for Zelenskyy’s leadership.
Trump responded to criticism by suggesting it was “time for Ukraine to get a new president” capable of ending the conflict, a comment Zelenskyy dismissed, emphasizing that leadership decisions are up to the Ukrainian people.
Diplomatic and Military Developments
Key Western allies of Ukraine, including the UK, France, Canada, and the European Commission, expressed support for a sustained energy ceasefire. British and French leaders underscored the importance of halting attacks on energy infrastructure to restore stability in global fuel markets. Meanwhile, the Trump administration reportedly considered suspending weapon procurement for Ukraine to pressure Kyiv to stop strikes on Russian energy facilities, according to reports citing European officials.
Russia’s military said it struck a logistics center in the Mykolaiv region and a cargo vessel in the Black Sea, targeting Ukrainian military and dual-use cargo storage according to Russian defense claims.
