Zelenskyi: Russia has attacked Ukraine's energy 76 times since Trump announced "energy truce"
Photo credit: Serhii Korovainyi/WSJ
Since US President Donald Trump announced an "energy truce," Russian forces have attacked Ukraine's energy, oil, and gas infrastructure 76 times, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
According to the president, Russia has also continued to strike residential buildings and industrial facilities, Rubryka reports.
Zelenskyi said Russian forces attacked substations in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, and Odesa regions overnight into October 18. The strikes left tens of thousands of households without electricity.
"Energy workers and repair crews are working almost around the clock to restore power. The Russians also struck residential buildings in our regions overnight. So far, 12 people have been reported injured, including two children. Two people were killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones," Zelenskyi said.
He added that Russian forces had also attacked residential areas. In Zaporizhzhia, a Russian strike on a residential building killed a 27-year-old woman. In Poltava, one person was killed, and four others were injured.
During the day on October 18, Russian forces struck an industrial facility in the village of Manevychi in the western Volyn region. The attack sparked a fire that spread through the warehouse and production buildings. No deaths have been reported.
"This morning, an agricultural enterprise in Volyn was struck. All the necessary emergency services are working at the site," Zelenskyi said.
The president stressed that Russia has shown no willingness to take steps toward peace, even as sanctions are eased or deals are discussed. He said Moscow sees the prospect of making money as proof that continuing the war is worthwhile.
"They see every opportunity to make money as a sign that their bet on war is paying off and that they can keep fighting. This is why the war continues: because of Russia's position, not because Ukraine is defending itself. Russia must be put under pressure to give peace a chance. I thank everyone who understands this and is helping us," Zelenskyi added.
Rubryka previously reported that from the evening of October 16 through the morning of October 17, Russian forces launched more than 320 drones at Ukraine's energy infrastructure. They also used loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. More than 15 major power generation and transmission facilities across the country were attacked.
On October 16, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov announced the start of large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, saying the Russian military command had selected its targets.
Overnight Russian attacks on October 18
Russian forces massively attacked Ukraine's eastern, southeastern, and central regions on the evening of October 17 and overnight into October 18. Two women were killed in the attacks on Poltava and Zaporizhzhia, and several people were injured in Poltava. Emergency power cuts were introduced in the Vinnytsia region following a strike on critical infrastructure.
Russian forces also launched a major attack on Ukraine's northwestern city of Rivne and the surrounding areas on October 18, targeting civilian infrastructure. Fires broke out at the strike sites, and emergency crews have since brought them under control.
Russian drones also attacked an industrial facility in Manevychi, Ukraine's western Volyn region, setting warehouse and production buildings on fire.
Russian drones struck an energy facility near the settlement of Staryi Vyshnivets in the western Ternopil region, leaving some consumers without electricity. An attack on energy infrastructure in the southern Odesa region has also left more than 24,000 consumers without power.
Russian strikes kill two in Ukraine's Poltava and Zaporizhzhia, trigger emergency blackouts in Vinnytsia
Russian forces attack Kyiv energy facilities, hitting high-rise building and leaving three dead and 22 injured
