Sybiha: 76 Energy Strikes Prove Moscow Flouts Ceasefire

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has warned that Russia is systematically expandeing targeted strikes against Ukraine’s power grid while feigning interest in diplomatic initiatives, stating that 76 targeted attacks on energy infrastructure over the past week prove Moscow has honored no commitments. Writing on X on Sunday, Oct. 18, Sybiha stressed that offering economic accommodations or easing sanctions under such conditions only equips the Kremlin with fresh revenue to underwrite ongoing military operations ahead of winter.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Its message could hardly be clearer – Moscow has not abided by any obligations,” Sybiha stated, noting that tens of thousands of Ukrainian families remain without electricity as international partners attempt to explore avenues to conclude the war. The foreign minister reiterated figures disclosed earlier in the day by President Volodymyr Zelensky, pointing out that Russian forces carried out 76 targeted attacks against Ukrainian energy facilities since US President Donald Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” one week ago. Sybiha added that over the preceding seven days alone, Russian forces deployed nearly 2,700 strike drones, 1,700 guided aerial bombs (KABs), and 66 missiles across Ukrainian territory, with the vast majority of missile systems consisting of high-speed ballistic weapons directed at municipal utilities. Other Topics of Interest US Tech Curbs on Kyiv Expose Allied Dependency European media have warned US restrictions on early-warning data and Starshield expose Europe’s dangerous reliance on American defense tech. Simulated diplomacy and economic pressure Ukraine’s top diplomat observed that the Kremlin is pursuing an asymmetric strategy engineered to secure international sanctions relief without altering its operational conduct or military objectives on the ground. According to Sybiha, Moscow seeks “sanctions relief without changing its behavior, preservation of profits without accountability, and the imitation of diplomatic efforts without any commitment to stop killing Ukrainians.” Addressing international allies and policymakers in Washington, Sybiha cautioned that lowering the economic costs of Russian aggression while civilian infrastructure faces daily bombardment directly undermines prospective peace efforts. “Easing economic pressure under these circumstances risks giving the Kremlin additional resources to finance its war,” Sybiha emphasized. “It is time for our partners to draw the necessary conclusions. Any serious effort to end this war must increase pressure on Moscow, restrict the revenues financing its aggression, and strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities and energy infrastructure.” The foreign minister underlined that Russia bears unilateral responsibility for prolonging the conflict, dismissing the notion that commercial accommodations can incentivize de-escalation. “Reducing the cost of its aggression while it continues attacking Ukraine will not bring peace,” Sybiha concluded. “It can only make further aggression easier to finance.” Sanctions waivers and energy armistice disputes Sybiha’s public remarks arrive amid sharp transatlantic disagreements over the Trump administration’s recent foreign policy maneuvers toward Moscow. On Friday, Oct. 16, Trump signed an executive order invoking Section 115 of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 to waive mandatory statutory penalties, including 500 percent tariffs on Russian imports and 100 percent duties targeting global purchasers of Russian hydrocarbons, just 48 hours before their scheduled implementation. The waiver follows an Oct. 9 bilateral commercial arrangement between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, under which Moscow agreed to deliver refined diesel onto international markets through 2027 to curb fuel benchmark inflation. The shipments were authorized under a general license issued by the US Treasury Department. While White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers argued that enforcing statutory sanctions now would impede ongoing diplomatic efforts to broker a peace settlement, Ukrainian officials have strongly contested that assessment. Both Zelensky and Sybiha have warned that granting Moscow access to international energy markets injects direct hard currency into the Russian state budget during active military operations, validating the Kremlin’s calculation that its war effort is yielding economic dividends rather than consequences. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.