Ukraine has pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s call for a new Ukrainian leader, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defended the country’s military actions against Russian infrastructure amid escalating tensions over efforts to end the war.
The diplomatic dispute emerged on Sunday, October 11, 2026, after Trump criticised Zelenskyy over Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and suggested that the country needed a president capable of reaching a peace agreement with Moscow.
Zelenskyy rejected the criticism, insisting that Russia was solely responsible for the ongoing war. He also maintained that Ukraine was prepared to stop targeting Russian oil refineries if Moscow ended its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Ukraine Defends Its Right to Choose a Leader
Trump said on Saturday that Ukraine should consider replacing Zelenskyy, arguing that the Ukrainian president had failed to secure an agreement to end the conflict.
His comments followed a reported agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning Russian diesel supplies, amid rising fuel prices in the United States.
The remarks drew criticism from Ukrainian officials, who defended Zelenskyy’s leadership during the war.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the Ukrainian people had the right to determine who leads their country. He argued that Zelenskyy was guiding Ukraine through a struggle for independence and sovereignty.
The disagreement adds pressure to already complicated diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.
Ukrainian Drone Strike Disrupts Russian Data Centre
Meanwhile, Ukraine intensified its campaign against Russian infrastructure after a drone attack damaged a data centre operated by technology company Yandex in the Russian city of Vladimir.
The company confirmed that the facility’s operations had been completely halted, although no injuries were reported.
The strike marked the third attack on Yandex data centre facilities in four days. Earlier incidents affected facilities in Russia’s Ryazan and Kaluga regions.
The disruptions reportedly affected digital services, including taxi bookings and other online platforms, with users experiencing difficulties across several Russian cities and parts of neighbouring countries.
Yandex operates a broad range of services, including internet searches, cloud computing, online shopping and transportation applications. Its infrastructure also supports artificial intelligence development in Russia.
Deadly Russian Attack Raises Civilian Concerns
Elsewhere, the death toll from a Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia rose to 23, including four children, according to Ukrainian officials.
More than 30 people were reported injured, while rescue operations were subsequently completed.
The casualties underline the continuing human cost of the conflict as both countries intensify long-range attacks against infrastructure and military targets.
Zelenskyy has insisted that any reduction in attacks must be mutual, arguing that Ukraine cannot stop striking Russian energy facilities while its own energy infrastructure remains under attack.
Swifteradio.com
