One week after US President Donald Trump announced an 'energy truce', Russian armed forces attacked Ukraine's energy and oil and gas infrastructure 76 times, leaving tens of thousands of families without electricity. According to RBC-Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this in his Telegram channel.

Nighttime strikes on four regions

According to the head of state, on the night of October 18, Russian troops struck substations in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, and Odesa regions. As a result of the attacks, tens of thousands of families were left without power supply. Energy workers and repair crews, according to Zelenskyy, are working around the clock to restore damaged facilities and return light to consumers.

Civilian casualties

Residential buildings were also hit overnight. According to data provided by the president, two people were killed as a result of the shelling, and 12 others were injured, including two children. On the morning of October 18, an agricultural enterprise in the Volyn region was hit; relevant services are working at the scene.

Scale of attacks over the week

Over the past week, according to Zelenskyy, Russian troops have used about 2,700 attack drones, 1,700 guided aerial bombs, and 66 missiles against Ukraine, the majority of which, he emphasized, were ballistic. The president stated that energy remains the main target of the strikes, and Moscow, in his assessment, is trying to create a blackout in the country.

'Truce' and differing positions

On October 11, Donald Trump stated that Ukraine and Russia had allegedly agreed to an 'energy truce' and must stop strikes on energy facilities. On the same day, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Kyiv had not agreed with Moscow on starting a truce, but was ready to support it if Russia also stopped its attacks. As early as October 12, the Ukrainian president reported strikes on six energy facilities, emphasizing that during this period Ukrainian troops did not attack Russian energy infrastructure.

Call for pressure on Russia

Zelenskyy stated that Russia is not taking steps in response to the lifting of sanctions or possible agreements, perceiving signals about potential economic benefits as a sign that continuing the war may be profitable for it. 'It is precisely because of this position of Russia that the war continues... It is Russia that needs to be pressured so that peace has a chance,' the president concluded, thanking those who 'understand and help'.