UK Chargé d’Affaires James Ford told the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on Thursday that Ukraine must control its security and sovereignty for lasting peace amid Russian attacks on its energy system.
At the OSCE’s 1,582nd Permanent Council plenary in Vienna, Ford said Russia had carried out 86 attacks on Ukraine’s energy system from Oct. 11 through Oct. 21. He described a major assault targeting 10 energy facilities that left more than 550,000 people without power. “If Russia wants genuine dialogue, it must recognise that basic fact,” Ford said.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said more than 10 energy infrastructure sites were damaged and at least 550,000 families lost electricity overnight Oct. 19. A National Security and Defense Council update dated Oct. 19 reported hits on 28 substations and other important energy facilities. The reports describe the damage in different ways and do not reconcile their facility totals; Ford cited people affected, while the ministry counted families.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in an Oct. 11 Truth Social post that both sides had agreed to an energy ceasefire effective immediately. In an address that day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to refrain from strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and expected Russia to do the same. Neither statement set out shared terms for the ceasefire.
The 1975 Helsinki Final Act lists sovereign equality and territorial integrity among the principles guiding relations between OSCE participating states. The European Council’s Oct. 16 conclusions reaffirmed support for Ukraine and urged Russia to accept a ceasefire, saying a lasting settlement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine verified at least 328 civilian deaths and 2,105 injuries in September. It also reported that energy attacks had resumed across the country as winter approached.
