In a striking contradiction to U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Russian forces unleashed drone and missile strikes on multiple Ukrainian power plants Sunday, drawing sharp criticism from Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russian drones had struck a power generation facility in the capital, causing widespread blackouts across Kyiv. Within hours, he confirmed additional attacks on the CHP-5 thermal power plant in the eastern city of Kharkiv.
"Ukrainian skies have been infested with Russian 'shaheds' all day," Zelensky wrote on social media, referring to the Iranian-designed drones widely used in Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
The strikes came just hours after Trump announced from Washington that an "energy ceasefire" had taken effect immediately, claiming both Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt attacks on each other's power generation and distribution systems—critical infrastructure that affects millions of civilians.
Zelensky expressed confusion over the announcement, saying he was seeking further details about the supposed agreement. Russia has yet to publicly confirm its participation in any such ceasefire arrangement.
The attacks underscore the ongoing vulnerability of Ukraine's power sector, which has faced relentless targeting throughout the conflict. Winter temperatures across Ukraine make energy infrastructure attacks particularly devastating for civilian populations, with power outages affecting heating, water supply, and medical services.
Damage assessments were ongoing Sunday evening as Ukraine's energy officials worked to restore power to affected regions.
This article is based on reporting from the National Post. Read the original story at National Post.