WorldSPECIAL REPORT

Zelenskyy vows to retaliate if Russian strikes on power grid continue

Zelenskyy made the vow while speaking to European security officials in Warsaw, as Trump's announced energy ceasefire coincided with ongoing Russian drone attacks on Kyiv.

On air: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on The Midday Show
Published 12:25 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

▶ As it aired · World

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on this story, from The Midday Show at 12:25 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Guardian's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by The Guardian: “Zelenskyy vows to retaliate if Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid continue”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 12:25 PM ET on The Midday Show, by Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock.
Topics: Zelenskyy, Russian, Ukraine.
BBN covered this story before: Zelenskyy says Russia is violating Trump's energy ceasefire as drone… (October 12).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

The GuardianZelenskyy vows to retaliate if Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid continue

What BBN said about it

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThis is a BBN special report. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is vowing to respond if Russia keeps hitting Ukraine's power grid, according to The Guardian.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHe says he was surprised by President Trump's announcement of an energy ceasefire, which was posted just as Russian drones were hitting Kyiv.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo the announcement went up while the attacks were still happening.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThat is a hard thing to hear if your lights are the ones at stake.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorZelenskyy was speaking to a gathering of European security officials, and European leaders are rallying around Kyiv.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat comes amid a feud with Mr. Trump over Ukraine's own strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorWhat it means for people on the ground is simple: power grids run heat, water pumps and hospitals, and winter is coming.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhat to watch next is whether Russia's strikes on the grid actually stop, and whether Ukraine follows through on its warning against Russian energy targets.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe White House hasn't said how a ceasefire announced mid-attack is supposed to be verified, and neither has anyone else.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAlso today, a Texas parody account has everyone laughing at a newsletter about an Oakland lamp.

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