On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack ignited fires at the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchi oil depot in St. Petersburg, Russia, killing one person and wounding five others, local governor Alexander Beglov reported. The strike also hit a logistics center owned by Russian retailer Ozon and a data center operated by VK, both companies confirmed.
Trump’s response and the energy cease‑fire
President Trump, speaking from the White House, praised his own administration’s recent effort to de‑escalate the conflict by announcing an “energy cease‑fire” on Oct. 11. He emphasized that the United States is working to bring both sides to the negotiating table and urged Russia and Ukraine to honor the agreement.
Trump also criticized Kyiv for continuing to target Russian oil infrastructure, saying the attacks undermine any chance of lasting peace. “We have taken steps to reduce the suffering on both sides,” the President said, adding that further strikes on energy sites only prolong the war and hurt ordinary families.
Ukrainian claims and Russian casualties
Ukrainian officials said the drone barrage involved more than 1,000 unmanned aircraft across 15 Russian regions, as well as the annexed Crimean peninsula and the Black Sea. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed it had shot down 1,015 Ukrainian drones in the same period.
In a separate incident, Russian forces struck the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing a woman and wounding at least two others, including a six‑year‑old girl. The attacks damaged two apartment buildings, 18 cars and an educational institution, according to regional military administrator Mykhailo Semikin.
Zelenskyy’s reaction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the cease‑fire, accusing Russia of violating the agreement by repeatedly targeting Ukrainian energy facilities. In a post on X, Zelenskyy noted that in the week since Trump’s announcement, Russian forces had struck Ukraine’s energy, oil and gas sectors 76 times.
He warned that continued attacks could plunge tens of thousands of families into darkness and called on the United States to hold Russia accountable. “America should see that Russia is not taking any reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Context and outlook
The latest flare‑up comes after Ukraine briefly paused its attacks on Russian oil sites for three days, a pause that ended on Thursday when Kyiv announced it would resume strikes. While the conflict has entered its fifth year, President Trump’s energy cease‑fire represents a rare diplomatic overture from the administration, aiming to protect civilian infrastructure and reduce civilian casualties on both sides.
Analysts note that the cease‑fire’s effectiveness will depend on strict compliance by both Moscow and Kyiv. For now, the administration continues to monitor the situation closely, urging restraint and emphasizing the importance of protecting families and essential services.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
