Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy grid kill seven; Zelensky faults US sanctions pause

Russia launched a major overnight attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, one of the largest of the war, killing seven people and wounding about 90, according to Ukrainian officials on October 17. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes as a massive assault on the country's power sector. The Russian Defense Ministry said it hit multiple infrastructure targets, including the ArcelorMittal steel plant in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine's largest, which had suspended operations in September. Russian forces also struck an electrical station in Zhytomyr and another steel plant in Zaporizhzhia, and claimed a Black Sea cargo ship carrying military equipment was hit. Zelensky accused Washington of encouraging Putin by suspending sanctions, specifically criticizing President Donald Trump's decision to block the Lindsey Graham law. Trump halted most provisions of the September congressional act, which would have imposed tariffs on Russian energy buyers and targeted officials, banks, and the shadow fleet, citing U.S. national interest.