The number of injured after the Russian drone attack on a nine-storey residential building in Kharkiv has risen to 22, including two children. This was reported by Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi on Telegram, as reported by Ukrinform.de.
According to Koretskyi, Russian troops again attacked residential buildings during the night and morning of 12 October. In Izium, seven private houses were damaged and one person was injured. The residential areas of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk also came under fire. “During the night, Russian troops also attacked oil, gas and other energy facilities in several regions,” Koretskyi continued. Warehouses, logistics companies, shopping centres, railway infrastructure, petrol stations and agricultural enterprises were also hit.
According to his information, gas production facilities of the state-owned Ukrainian energy company Naftogaz in the Kharkiv region are particularly affected. Important infrastructure was damaged, said acting Naftogaz head Serhii Fedorenko on Telegram.
Zelenskyy threatens retaliation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, announced retaliation if the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power grid continue. At a meeting of European security representatives on Monday in Warsaw, he said, according to the British Guardian: “If Russia does not agree to an energy ceasefire this winter, we will respond.”
Zelenskyy expressed surprise at the announcement of an “energy ceasefire” by Donald Trump, which was published on Sunday while Russian drones were attacking Kyiv. Neither side had agreed to it, Zelenskyy said. Just a few hours later, Russia carried out a targeted attack on a power plant in Kharkiv, while a large part of Kyiv was in darkness. “It is clear that Putin does not read Truth Social,” Zelenskyy said.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at a meeting of European foreign ministers on Monday: “We welcome the energy ceasefire if it holds. We have not yet seen Russia also abide by it.”
The background to the dispute is Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel imports. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys criticised: “This deal does not help – neither with the oil products crisis nor with the unity of the transatlantic community when it comes to Russia. And it is not the European way.”
Trump had announced the lifting on Friday in order to lower global and domestic fuel prices before the US midterm elections next month. Zelenskyy called the decision “weak” and said it would give Putin “billions” in additional revenue. Trump urged Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian refineries and said Ukraine needed a “new leader”. Zelenskyy responded that it was up to Ukrainians to choose their leader. In an interview with ABC News, he stated he was ready to accept Trump’s demands and organise elections – but only if Putin agreed to a “complete” 60-day ceasefire.
Russia relies on drones and missiles
Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and, according to the Guardian, is relying on jet-powered drones and ballistic missiles. Even before the cold winter months, there are power outages and water shortages – earlier in the season than usual in previous years.
Ukraine wants to negotiate an energy ceasefire to relieve its power grid before winter. Russia has so far shown no willingness to stop its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Earlier coverage: Russian drone strikes on Kharkiv: eleven injured
