Russia Hits Kyiv Power Plants After Trump Declares Energy Ceasefire
Russian missiles and drones struck power plants in Kyiv and Kharkiv in the week leading up to Oct. 16, causing rolling blackouts and water outages. The barrage continued after U.S. President Donald Trump declared an "energy ceasefire" between Moscow and Kyiv. The Guardian
Trump announced the ceasefire in a post on Truth Social on a Sunday that week. He wrote: "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed. Do not break it!" Reuters The announcement was not publicly confirmed by the parties. Al Jazeera
In the Kyiv region, strikes on a Tuesday night hit Combined Heat and Power Plants 4 and 5 and the Trypillya Thermal Power Plant. Another strike hit a major electrical substation that transfers electricity from two of Ukraine's main nuclear power plants to Kyiv. Substations forming the "Kyiv energy ring" that brings electricity to the capital were also targeted. The Guardian
Ukrainian intelligence said it intercepted a Russian assessment titled "Analysis of Ukraine's Energy, Housing and Utilities Sectors" in the month before Oct. 16. According to Ukraine, the document lists goals ranging from degrading Ukrainians' quality of life through power outages to shutting off water supply, predicting deterioration of sanitary conditions and forced outflow of residents from cities. It also includes vulnerable energy grid targets and contemplates strikes against switchyards at several nuclear power plants.
Ukraine's energy minister Denys Shmyhal briefed European allies in September about the plan. Shmyhal said there are two large Russian documents with tables showing the number and types of weapons needed to destroy each Ukrainian energy facility, ranging from ballistic missiles to jet-powered and conventional drones. The documents predict the planned strikes could destroy more than 90% of the power budgeted for Kyiv each winter.
Ukraine's stocks of U.S.-provided PAC-3 missiles had dwindled. Expert projections cited in October warned of a worst-case scenario of blackouts lasting up to 20 hours per day in Kyiv.
