Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said he was willing to support a ceasefire if Moscow did - but now reports energy infrastructure has been targeted by Russia overnight.
Donald Trump’s ceasefire in Russia and Ukraine appears to be in tatters after several overnight strikes and power outages in the region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of violating the energy ceasefire within hours of it being announced by the US president.
President Zelensky had initially been surprised at the ceasefire announcement on Sunday, but said Kyiv would support it if Moscow did. The Kremlin is yet to comment on the ceasefire announcement.
Over the past week Russia has carried out over 200 strikes on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure and 17 strikes on oil and gas facilities, killing 150 people.
However, overnight Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, was hit by drones causing ongoing fires and search and rescue efforts. Energy and railway infrastructure in the Zhytomyr region in western Ukraine was also targeted overnight.
Russia also said there had been Ukrainian strikes on Belgorod and Donetsk, the Ukrainian regions which are currently largely under Russian control. Moscow also said the military had intercepted over 20 drones heading towards the city.
There have also been blackouts in the city of Izyum after it was hit by a missile overnight.
The UK Foreign Office has declined to say whether or not the UK knew about Mr Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine before it was announced.
Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty told Sky News: “There are a whole range of developments that happen on a daily basis on the situation in Ukraine, and we work very, very closely with the United States and with Ukraine on these matters.
“But as I said, the facts on the ground are that Russia is continuing to attack Ukraine overnight, and that is what matters.
“Ukraine needs to be safe. It needs to have its energy infrastructure secure, and we’ll continue to stand with them.”
Posting on X overnight, President Zelensky said: “There was a statement from the president of the United States that an energy ceasefire has been secured. This is good news for everyone - and it is important that it becomes reality.
“Unfortunately, Ukrainian skies have been infested with Russian ‘shaheds’ all day today. There have been glide bomb strikes and strikes on our energy infrastructure too. A power plant in Kharkiv was attacked this evening.
“Overall, this past week alone, the Russians have carried out more than 200 strikes on our electricity generation and transmission facilities in Ukraine, and another 17 strikes this week targeted gas and oil facilities. They have killed more than 150 of our people, and more than 700 people have been wounded.”
He added: “Ukraine has proposed many de-escalatory steps. Putin had one answer to all of them - ‘nyet’. We do hope that he will finally say something to America, Ukraine, and the entire world that will lead to a real and dignified peace.
“Ukraine wants peace. The question is whether Russia does. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have received all the appropriate orders. We are awaiting clear details of the dialogue between America and Russia - and we expect Putin to follow through on what President Trump said.”
President Zelensky is due to speak at the annual security conference in Warsaw alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk this morning.