This is a developing story.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday condemned as “unfortunate” the United States’ decision to pause new sanctions on Russia, hours after Moscow launched what he described as one of the largest attacks yet on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
In a social media post on Saturday morning, Zelensky said more than 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities were targeted overnight by more than 320 jet- and gasoline-powered Iranian Shahed drones “along with loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.”
“At a time when the Russians have carried out such a massive attack on our energy sector, a decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end,” he wrote.
“This Act could have helped enormously – and still can! But it needs to actually work, and every voice in support of it matters.”
One of the heaviest attacks on the grid
Regional authorities said on Oct. 17 that Russian attacks killed seven people and injured around 90 over the past day, as Ukraine reported one of the heaviest Russian attacks against its energy infrastructure so far.
The Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down 289 of the 332 drones launched overnight, including jet-powered attack drones. It reported that Iskander-M and North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles struck 22 locations, with debris falling in three areas. The Energy Ministry said attacks on energy facilities overnight and on the morning of Oct. 17 left some homes without power.
In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian attacks killed a man and a woman, aged 58 and 71, and left 41 people injured or suffering from stress, including three children, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.
Sanctions paused a day before taking effect
President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday night from Mar-a-Lago waiving the new sanctions package under the Lindsey Graham Act, which he had approved in September and which was due to take effect on Sunday, saying the waiver was in the country’s “national interests.”
Zelensky told reporters on Saturday that he believes the lifting of sanctions will continue, and that the “diesel deal” — Trump’s announced plan for the U.S. to import Russian diesel in an effort to reduce energy prices before November’s midterm elections — “is just the first step.”
“A US sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin — all of this only encourages him to keep attacking,” Zelensky posted.
Escalating war of words
The pause comes days after Trump said it was time for Ukraine to “get a new president,” and after Trump on Thursday blasted Ukraine’s renewed strikes on Russian oil refineries as a “disgrace,” saying they were driving up the world price of oil. On Friday, European leaders rallied around Zelensky after Trump’s criticism.
With winter approaching, Ukraine’s leaders warn the grid attacks put civilians at direct risk. Zelensky on Saturday urged European partners to approve new support packages for Ukraine, and appealed directly to Americans: “It is important that everyone in America also sees what is really happening.”
Sources: The Times; New York Post; Ukrainian officials and regional authorities via Kyiv-based reporting.
