Zelensky: ‘The bombs on Zaporizhzhia are Putin’s way of saying “thank you” for lifting the diesel sanctions’

Situated on the River Don, it handles the storage and loading of fuel onto tankers bound for transport across the Sea of Azov. The attack follows the announcement by US President Donald Trump of a meeting with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, which led to the suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel until April next year. The Rostov terminal hit by Ukrainian drones is used to receive, store and load petroleum products onto river and sea-going tankers, with an annual handling capacity of up to 3.5 million tonnes, or nearly 300,000 tonnes per month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had described the easing of US sanctions against Russia as ‘a sign of weakness’, stating that it would not contribute to peace.

The death toll from a Russian attack on Zaporizhia stands at 15, including three children. This was announced in a post on Telegram by Mykhailo Semikin, the acting governor of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration: ‘The death toll following this morning’s Russian attack on Zaporizhia has risen to 15 people,’ he writes. ‘Among them are three children. Others have been injured. Search and rescue operations at the sites of the attacks are continuing. There may still be people trapped under the rubble. Our deepest condolences go to the families and friends of the victims.” Moscow, Semikin specifies, struck “a five-storey residential building”. Russian troops then attacked the districts of Kholodnohirsk and Slobidsk in Kharkiv. In the Slobidsk district, a drone struck a building used as a medical facility, injuring two people. This was reported by Ukrainska Pravda, citing the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleg Synegubov, and the city’s mayor, Igor Terekhov.

“Today, Russia expressed its gratitude for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five guided bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote this on X. “Overnight, thirteen of our regions were attacked. Residential buildings, infrastructure and railway facilities were damaged. Last night confirmed once again that, in Russia, any easing of pressure is interpreted as a green light to continue fighting and dropping bombs on cities. We need different signals,” he added.

Furthermore, in the Ukrainian capital, the metro and escalators have been temporarily suspended due to power cuts at external power stations. There have also been problems with the water supply in Kyiv. This is reported by Ukrainska Pravda. Due to a lack of voltage in the electricity grid, electric transport was temporarily suspended in the Holosiivskyi district, as well as in some areas of the Solomianskyi, Shevchenkivskyi and Pechersk districts. In the Solomyanskyi neighbourhood, the wreckage of a drone fell onto a 25-storey residential block and an 8-storey office block.

Vladimir Putin showed great understanding, during his telephone call with Donald Trump, regarding certain proposals put forward by the US for de-escalating the conflict in Ukraine. This was announced by the Kremlin. “During the conversation, the Russian president showed great understanding towards certain proposals from the US side regarding de-escalation measures,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, as quoted by Interfax. Most of the telephone call between Putin and Trump, which took place on Friday evening at the latter’s initiative, focused on resolving the Ukrainian crisis, he added.

“The EU is reducing its dependence on Russian fossil fuels and will continue to do so with determination.” This was stated by a spokesperson for the European Commission when questioned by ANSA about the agreement announced by US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to allow exports of Russian diesel. “Europe knows only too well the hidden costs associated with excessive dependence on Russian hydrocarbons. And Europe does not want to fuel Russia’s war against Ukraine. We continue to believe that a ceasefire is necessary to protect global food supplies and energy infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia.”

“Suspending sanctions on Russian diesel provides Moscow with more revenue to continue the war. This is not the time to ease the pressure on Russia, and Europe will not do so.” This was how the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, commented online on the agreement between the United States and Russia, which involves the suspension of US sanctions on Russian diesel.