October 12, 2026
A Truce That Didn't Survive the Night: Ukraine Accuses Russia of Violating Trump's Energy Ceasefire
A Truce That Didn't Survive the Night: Ukraine Accuses Russia of Violating Trump's Energy Ceasefire
Graveyard Crew, this ceasefire lasted about as long as a promise made at 2 a.m. in a parking lot.
What happened
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump blindsided Kyiv and its European allies by announcing on Truth Social that Ukraine and Russia had agreed to an energy ceasefire — no strikes on each other's energy systems. He also unveiled a deal for the U.S. to buy diesel from Russia, citing surging fuel costs ahead of next month's U.S. midterm elections.
Kyiv says it learned about the deal from the media. And overnight into Monday, waves of Russian strikes hit Ukraine — including energy facilities that Kyiv calls a direct violation of the announced truce. Several people were killed and dozens wounded.
The strike at Kharkiv
Speaking via video link at the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a Russian jet-powered drone hit a gas production facility at midnight, and a petrol station was struck by several drones. A thermal power plant in Kharkiv was hit Sunday night in a large-scale attack that killed three people and wounded nine others, including children. A residential building burned after the attack, per AP photos.
"There were Russian violations of the energy ceasefire announced by President Trump," Zelenskyy said. He added that he wasn't sure Russian President Vladimir Putin was "ready, because even after yesterday's messages from President [Trump] … Putin attacked our gas infrastructure," and that the strikes were Putin's "answer to President Trump."
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had carried out no attacks on Russian refineries overnight — but made clear that if Russia wants Kyiv to suspend such attacks, Moscow must stop hitting Ukraine's energy system and critical infrastructure. He also said wartime-suspended elections could be held if Moscow agreed to a full ceasefire for 60 days.
Moscow: "we complied"
Russia insists it complied with the energy ceasefire. Ukraine's allies weren't buying it: the European Union approved its largest sanctions package against Russia's military-industrial complex since the full-scale invasion in 2022, and urged the U.S. to keep pressure on Moscow.
Trump has also called on Ukrainians to replace their wartime leader — calling for Zelenskyy to face elections — a demand Zelenskyy is now tying to a 60-day full ceasefire.
The Night Desk take
A ceasefire nobody saw written down, announced by a third party, allegedly violated within hours — this is the kind of story that will have a second chapter by morning. Zelenskyy vows retaliation. The EU is tightening the screws. And winter is coming, which is exactly when energy strikes hurt the most.
We'll be watching this one. Details developing.
Source: Reuters (via 947 The Beast / KELO-FM) + New York Post — read the original report
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