Russian Missile Strikes Hit Kiev’s Energy Infrastructure Despite Trump’s Ceasefire Announcement
On Wednesday, several regions in Ukraine, notably Kiev, were targeted by Russian missile strikes, as confirmed by local authorities. This escalation occurred despite a ceasefire announcement by former President Donald Trump regarding such attacks, according to reports from France Presse.
AFP journalists reported hearing powerful explosions in Kiev, where Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that “multiple energy infrastructures” had been damaged. The city is expected to experience power outages due to these Russian strikes, as the mayor later noted on Telegram.
At least three individuals were reported killed, according to emergency services.
A Russian missile had also hit an electrical facility in Kiev on Tuesday night, with President Volodymyr Zelensky indicating that Ukraine had received no prior warning from its Western allies regarding this assault.
“Russians Do Not Consider Themselves Bound by Trump’s Statements”
President Zelensky detailed the situation in a Facebook post, stating, “Ballistic missile attacks against Kiev occurred again without any prior warning from our partners. The main target was an energy infrastructure, specifically thermal power plant number 4, which has unfortunately been hit.”
Ukraine relies heavily on Western military intelligence, especially from the United States, to detect Russian attacks and respond with counterstrikes.
Zelensky noted, “According to our intelligence, the Russians are preparing new missile launches. The facts show that they do not consider themselves obligated to adhere to the statements made by the President of the United States. Ukraine has supported a ceasefire in the energy sector, but Russia continues to target electrical facilities and the lives of our people,” in his remarks during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday.
This latest rise in tensions between Zelensky and Trump raises concerns in Kiev about a potential weakening of crucial support.
Ukraine Received No Alerts Before Missile Strikes
The Ukrainian President elaborated that their systems detected the missiles only when they were almost upon Kiev, describing the targeted facility as “a key energy installation for the city.”
“Not only are they (the Russians) destroying our energy infrastructures, but Ukraine is also not receiving prior alerts about ballistic missile launches,” lamented the Ukrainian leader.
Residents of Kiev heard explosions due to Russian attacks late Monday into Tuesday, with air raid alarms sounding only after the strikes had begun, a phenomenon that has occurred in the past but was previously rare.
Zelensky had already stated that Ukraine had not received any warnings from the West during this latest attack.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials attributed this lack of alerts to the use of hard-to-detect missiles by the Russian military or possible “technical issues.”
“Sometimes this information does not reach us. And this is not the first time this has happened. There are also certain technical aspects to consider,” said Yuri Ignat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian air forces, during a television broadcast.
Trump-Zelensky Relations Deteriorate Again
This escalation occurs amid a renewed deterioration of relations between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump.
The American president has repeatedly accused his Ukrainian counterpart of striking Russian oil refineries, which he believes contributes to the soaring global fuel prices.
Last week, Trump suggested that “it is time for Ukraine to have a new president.”
He also announced that he had secured an agreement from both Moscow and Kiev for a ceasefire concerning attacks on energy infrastructures, a claim that neither capital has confirmed.
