Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of defying Donald Trump after Russian missile and drone strikes left at least 600,000 Ukrainians without electricity. The Ukrainian president said Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 attack drones and loitering munitions against energy facilities and critical infrastructure in Kyiv, the surrounding region, and Kharkiv.
Attacks despite energy ceasefire
Mr Zelensky said the attacks were particularly provocative because they targeted energy infrastructure despite an energy ceasefire announced by Mr Trump. Russia has not confirmed the existence of such an agreement, with the Kremlin saying only that discussions were continuing.
Mr Zelensky said: “Russia does not consider the US president’s statements to be strong.” He said the strikes had caused significant damage to 26 sites in Ukraine’s electricity sector and four in the oil and gas sector, warning that power cuts could last even longer.
Call for tougher sanctions and Patriot ammunition
The Ukrainian leader urged Washington to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow and provide additional ammunition for Patriot air defence systems. He said Russia had “squandered an opportunity for de-escalation” and called on Mr Trump to respond forcefully, arguing that Moscow had deliberately chosen to continue its war.
Mr Zelensky also insisted Ukraine had respected the proposed energy truce, saying it had not attacked Russian energy infrastructure in the two days following Mr Trump’s announcement. He said: “Peace can only be achieved through strength, and we ask America to remember this Reagan-era principle.”
NATO jets scrambled and casualties reported
Two Spanish F-18 fighter jets operating under NATO command also took off from a Romanian airbase at the weekend after military radar detected aerial targets close to the Ukrainian border. The incident unfolded overnight on October 9-10, as Moscow continued its relentless campaign against Ukraine, raising fears that the war could spill over into NATO territory.
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klychko reported that 2 people were killed and 21 injured in the early-morning strike, while the Ukrainian Air Force stated that allies did not provide early launch intelligence. At least two people were reportedly killed and 21 injured, including an eight-year-old child. The attacks cast doubt on President Trump's claim that he can end the war, which has now lasted more than four years.
