Zelensky: Russia has struck one of the most powerful blows to the energy sector and is engineering a “blackout” before winter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the American side’s decision not to impose “hellish sanctions” against Russia, against the backdrop of a large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

He wrote about this on his Telegram channel.

According to Zelensky, the previous day Russia delivered one of the most powerful strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in recent times. More than 15 important electricity generation and transmission facilities in various regions of the country came under attack. The most difficult situation developed in Lutsk, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Shepetivka, Slavuta, and Netishyn. Strikes were also carried out against the energy infrastructure of Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk oblasts and a number of other regions.

“From 7:00 p.m. yesterday alone until 7:00 a.m. this morning, more than 320 jet and gasoline Shaheds, as well as loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles were used against our energy sector, against our cities and communities. And although our warriors manage to shoot down a significant portion of them, the mass scale and relentlessness of Russian strikes — and specifically against the energy sector — unfortunately has many negative consequences,” Zelensky wrote.

The president stated that Russia has scaled up its “anti-energy operation” and is attempting to exhaust Ukrainian reserves and recovery capabilities to the maximum extent. According to him, the goal is to engineer a “blackout” in Ukraine right before winter and leave millions of people without electricity and heating.

Against this backdrop, Zelensky criticized Washington’s decision to ignore the Lindsey Graham bill, which had provided for the imposition of harsh sanctions against Russia.

“The American sanctions ‘blackout,’ the easing of pressure on the aggressor, cash payments to Putin — all of this only encourages him to continue the war,” the president stated.

Zelensky also characterized the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Russian diesel fuel as the first step toward further concessions to Russia on Washington’s part.

“Unfortunately, the lifting of sanctions will continue. I believe this diesel fuel deal is the first step,” he said.

Trump’s decision not to impose “hellish sanctions” against Russia was also criticized in the U.S. Congress on the same day — both Democrats and Republicans spoke out in condemnation.