Zelensky: Russia deliberately struck energy infrastructure with ballistic missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia deliberately carried out a ballistic missile strike on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Zelensky noted that the strike hit precisely the infrastructure covered by the ceasefire regime announced by the American president.

According to him, Russia used 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones against energy and critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast and Kharkiv.

"The strike was fully intended and demonstrative in scale - Russia has never before shown such demonstrative disrespect toward the United States. Russia does not consider the statements of the American president to be strong. Unfortunately, at least 600,000 people are now left without electricity. The outages may become even more widespread. Unfortunately, facilities and equipment were significantly damaged - 26 of our energy system facilities and four oil and gas sector facilities," Zelensky said.

He called on the US and other countries of the world to respond.

"I call on America and everyone in the world who does not close their eyes to reality to respond - and a firm response at that. Russia has missed the chance for de-escalation and has clearly chosen to continue its insane war aimed at destruction. I call on President Trump to impose strict sanctions on Russia, especially since the Lindsey Graham bill, which was recently approved and became law, provides the authority to take such measures and regulates them," Zelensky said.

Zelensky said the American president has all the effective and necessary instruments to make peace possible through strength, justice and pressure on the aggressor.

"We are asking for additional packages of Patriot-type air defense missile systems for Ukraine. It is entirely fair when we tell the United States, Europe and all our partners that no country in the world should be left facing alone such a deranged and war-loving actor as Russia," the Ukrainian president said.