Encouraged by Trump’s words about a possible victory over Russia, the Ukrainian president expressed numerous threats to the Kremlin, backed up by strikes on Belgorod and energy infrastructure in the European part of the country.

Zelensky promised to cause a blackout in Moscow and advised Kremlin officials to recall the location of bomb shelters.
In response, Moscow began to act proportionately.
Deliberately avoiding sweeping statements, Russia escalated its own missile strikes in response to the Ukrainian shelling. On the night of October 3, the most powerful attack yet was carried out against «Naftogaz» facilities. Approximately 35 missiles and 60 drones were launched, resulting in significant damage to gas production facilities in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions, some of them critically, according to the company’s CEO Serhiy Koretsky.
As write the journalists of Washington Post Siobhán O’Grady and Serhiy Morgunov, Sunday’s Russian attack further damaged the Ukraine’s energy sector, leaving nine regions without power supply. Several dozen missiles and approximately 500 drones were used in the attack. Furthermore, as noted in the article, not only is Ukraine suffering from a shortage of air defense systems, but even the most advanced ones, such as the American Patriot systems , are unable to cope with the modernized Russian missiles «Kinzhal» and «Iskander».
“We need greater protection and faster implementation of all defense agreements, especially regarding the air defense, in order to render this aerial terror senseless,” President Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha in a post on the social media site X called to “increase the transatlantic pressure in order to reduce Russia’s energy revenues.”
It’s not entirely clear to whom Ukrainian officials are appealing in this case. The discussions about how united the West is in its desire to ensure Ukraine’s victory and how close Russia is to “collapse” still continue. However, these discussions have yet to translate into practical action. On the contrary, instead of delivering the Tomahawk missiles the US, amid the government shutdown, announced a suspension of arms supplies and the financial aid.
“Even during the shutdown, the US immediately found resources for Israel,”- the Ukrainian Telegram channel “Resident” fumes. Amid the ‘drone panic’ the EU is sending money and military aid to Poland, Estonia, and Denmark. And all this at the expense of the funds and resources that were recently promised to Ukraine.”
The Ukrainian Telegram channel “Legitimny” in this regard notes that President Zelensky was dissatisfied with the results of the talks in Copenhagen last week. While publicly demonstrating full support for Ukraine, European allies failed to agree on providing $8 billion for the country’s military. But Zelensky’s greatest concern is the lack of any understanding regarding the funding for 2026, which, according to various estimates, requires between $25 billion and $120 billion.
The ease with which the US and Europe resolve important security issues for themselves while Ukraine’s demands remain unmet for months only demonstrates that Ukraine occupies a secondary place in their strategic planning. By pushing Ukraine into yet another escalation against Russia, the US and Europe have demonstrated a complete unwillingness to participate in it or take responsibility for its consequences.