# Russia Renews Attacks on Ukraine Amid US Diplomatic Push and Sanctions Waiver

> Russia launched renewed missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, causing casualties and power outages, as US envoy Steve Witkoff engaged in peace talks and President Trump waived some sanctions.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-21T08:30:23.704878Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/russia-renews-attacks-on-ukraine-amid-us-diplomatic-push-and-sanctions-waiver-c8468251

On October 19, 2026, Russia launched renewed missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, killing at least one person and injuring eight in Kyiv, and leaving over 550,000 households without power [1][15][18][19]. These attacks occurred as US envoy Steve Witkoff engaged in high-level diplomatic meetings regarding peace and a ceasefire [3].

These developments highlight escalating military actions and intensified diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, set against a backdrop of disputed US intelligence sharing and shifting US policy on sanctions [2][3][4][6]. The ongoing attacks impact Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure, while international discussions seek resolution [1].

## What the records show
Russian forces damaged over 10 energy infrastructure facilities across 10-15 Ukrainian oblasts, causing widespread power outages [1][18]. A Datagroup data center in Kyiv was destroyed [1][18]. Casualties included one fatality and eight injuries in Kyiv, with additional deaths and missing persons reported in the Kyiv region [1][15][19].

## The timeline of events
On October 16, President Donald Trump waived many sanctions against Russia [4]. Intelligence sharing between the US and Ukraine resumed on October 18 and 20, according to President Zelenskyy [2][11]. Russia launched its renewed attacks on October 19 [1]. On October 20, US envoy Steve Witkoff met with President Zelenskyy and other European leaders in Oslo for "positive" talks on peace [3]. Trump also criticized Zelenskyy that day [4]. Witkoff traveled to Russia on October 21 to meet President Vladimir Putin for ceasefire discussions [3].

## Diplomatic efforts intensify
US envoy Steve Witkoff held talks in Oslo on October 20 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European and NATO representatives [3][10]. Discussions focused on a comprehensive peace framework, including proposals for Ukraine's security guarantees [3]. Witkoff then traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, on October 21 to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss a potential ceasefire [3].

## US intelligence dispute
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed the US had briefly "blocked" intelligence, including missile attack warnings, but confirmed its resumption on October 18 and 20 [2][11]. Zelenskyy stated that intelligence sharing "works now" [2][10]. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on October 19 and 20, vehemently denied any suspension [6][7][9]. Rubio stated, "There has been no pause," calling claims of Ukrainians dying due to withheld intelligence "scandalous, outrageous, and untrue" [6][7][9].

## Trump's stance and sanctions waiver
President Donald Trump has advocated for Ukrainian concessions [4]. On October 20, Trump criticized President Zelenskyy, stating, "The American taxpayers are tired of it" [4]. He acknowledged Russia's territorial gains, noting, "Russia is a big machine - they just keep grinding forward" [4]. Trump also claimed on October 18 that Zelenskyy "doesn't care" about ending the war [4][14]. His executive order on October 16 waived many sanctions against Russia [4]. This decision drew criticism, and Zelenskyy sought to mend ties with Trump during the Oslo talks [4][5].

## What we could not confirm
The specific proposals for security guarantees discussed in Oslo were not detailed [3]. The exact nature of the "software problem" mentioned by Secretary Rubio regarding intelligence warnings remains unconfirmed [8]. The status of the deal to buy Russian diesel that drew criticism is not specified [4].

## Evidence cited
1. Ukraine war: Russia launches renewed missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, other regions (BBC) — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5ynkx3xy11o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
2. US has resumed sharing intelligence with Ukraine about Russian strikes, says Zelenskyy (The Guardian) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/20/us-has-resumed-sharing-intelligence-with-ukraine-about-russian-strikes-says-zelenskyy
3. Witkoff in Russia for Putin meeting after positive talks with Zelenskyy (Al Jazeera) — https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/21/witkoff-in-russia-for-putin-meeting-after-positive-talks-with-zelenskyy?traffic_source=rss
4. Trump Pushes for Ukraine Concessions Amid Renewed Attacks (The New York Times) — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/world/europe/trump-zelensky-putin-ukraine-war.html
5. Zelenskyy seeks to mend ties with Trump ahead of Witkoff-Putin meeting (PBS) — https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/zelenskyy-seeks-to-mend-ties-with-trump-ahead-of-witkoff-putin-meeting
6. Rubio denies US halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine (The Washington Post) — https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/10/19/russia-ukraine-rubio-zelensky-intelligence/
7. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denies intelligence sharing pause with Ukraine (The Hindu) — https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-denies-intelligence-sharing-pause-with-ukraine/article68764069.ece
8. Rubio rejects allegations Trump trying to harm Ukraine (The Washington Times) — https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/20/rubio-rejects-allegations-trump-trying-harm-ukrain/
9. Rubio: 'Scandalous and outrageous' to claim Ukrainians dying because US withholding intel (Ukrinform) — https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/4066497-rubio-scandalous-and-outrageous-to-claim-ukrainians-dying-because-us-withholding-intel.html
10. Zelenskyy says intelligence sharing 'works now' as US envoy to meet Putin in Russia - BBC News (youtube.com) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12345
11. Ukraine's Zelenskyy confirms US intelligence sharing resumes as Oslo talks begin (TRT World) — https://www.trtworld.com/europe/ukraines-zelenskyy-confirms-us-intelligence-sharing-resumes-as-oslo-talks-begin-17865248
12. Zelenskyy says US threatened to cut intelligence sharing over Ukraine drone strikes (wliw.org) — https://www.wliw.org/programs/here-now/zelenskyy-says-us-threatened-cut-intelligence-sharing-over-ukraine-drone-strikes-131174/
13. Zelenskyy says US resumed intel sharing after temporary pause, eyeing talks (kyivpost.com) — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/23471
14. Trump accuses Zelenskyy of not wanting to end war, as Ukraine says US intel sharing resumed (theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/trump-zelenskyy-intelligence-starlink-ukraine-russia
15. Eight people injured in Russian attack on Kyiv – photos, video (pravda.com.ua) — https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/10/19/8086027/
16. War latest Oct. 19-20: Ukraine reports 16 killed, 69 injured in Russian attacks over past day (kyivindependent.com) — https://kyivindependent.com/national/war-latest-oct-19-20-ukraine-reports-16-killed-69-injured-in-russian-attacks-over-past-day/
17. One killed, 3 injured as Russia attacks Kyiv with ballistic missiles – city administration (ukranews.com) — https://www.ukranews.com/en/news/1004126-one-killed-3-injured-as-russia-attacks-kyiv-with-ballistic-missiles-city-administration
18. Ukraine War: Russia Missile Strikes Kill And Injure Civilians; Ukraine Destroys Russian Oil Depot; Trump Suspends Sanctions (forbes.com) — https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2026/10/19/ukraine-war-russia-missile-strikes-kill-and-injure-civilians-ukraine-destroys-russian-oil-depot-trump-suspends-sanctions/
19. One dead, eight injured in Russian overnight attack on Kyiv – State Emergency Service (nv.ua) — https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/kilkist-postrazhdalih-u-kiyevi-zrosla-do-9-lyudey-u-stolici-zaginula-divchina-novini-ukrajini-50470557.html
20. Trump Calls for Ukraine to Replace President Zelensky as He Waives Sanctions on Russia (time.com) — https://time.com/7123985/trump-ukraine-russia-sanctions-zelensky-diesel-deal/
21. Trump threatened Ukraine with a worsening of the situation if Kyiv does not sign an agreement (ua.news) — https://ua.news/en/trump-has-threatened-ukraine-with-a-worsening-of-the-situation-if-kyiv-does-not-sign-an-agreement
22. Trump Waives Key Russia Sanctions Days Before They Were To Take Effect (rferl.org) — https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-waives-russia-sanctions-ukraine-graham-act/32856234.html
23. US special envoy Steve Witkoff arrives in Russia to meet Putin on Ukraine war (cnn.com) — https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/21/politics/steve-witkoff-putin-russia-ukraine/index.html
24. Trump's peace push for Ukraine continues with Witkoff-Putin meeting (axios.com) — https://www.axios.com/2026/10/21/trump-kushner-witkoff-putin-ukraine-meeting
25. Meaningful progress made in Oslo talks on Ukraine, says US official – as it happened (theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/20/ukraine-war-russia-us-peace-talks-oslo
26. US envoy arrives in Russia for talks with Putin on Ukraine (wsls.com) — https://www.wsls.com/news/world/2026/10/21/us-envoy-arrives-in-russia-for-talks-with-putin-on-ukraine/
27. Ukraine war live: Witkoff meets Putin in St Petersburg for talks on Ukraine (theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/oct/21/ukraine-war-russia-live-news-witkoff-meets-putin-in-st-petersburg-for-talks-on-ukraine
28. Kyiv Post (kyivpost.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHW7PngvWL_Mreq9njCIH-8GqtHkhlq3QUDQeR6c-Skj2j_-AljHN28bYAQ4vpyN3Gpau8B1kOjjvSZvn1a_LM2BDsjWhxOFkC-c0NN2V4dD6TzR8AX8aviun5dlprb
29. JPost.com (jpost.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHktBtW7GOMpSGSvAfjw1Ka-tXhZ4ORJtL_t13aJV0UbnE6M_tRA-lNsn7X_G8ASjm0WGtEfpkS0QHyVfgOXm1QwJhzvrLYr8wMqQ7JT8R-FuIiqgZE_KW0zG1eTkmTnIm6up0tChSelf5jPKbs
30. Power outages in half of Ukraine's oblasts after Russian assault on power plants - Kyiv Independent (kyivindependent.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHgZ7c6aryNNoHhAUWBjOuN_Gu5h5kAIFTB8KsTUElM03x8MPcliNycx2T0KPQPV-u6t69BAuF0BnJ4X2JWP5NCwhra1xwOmJIc9e50DFGELtETJLpyW07pNn-op9KsGl9tW9HRGbJMNePr1RPJgOFpLsXM7AatlXUU4igTF6BsqsD6HVrKWBsehKChD9XMV1v_YBcWT3hD3ONk9ig-SrPrp_U=
31. US special envoy Witkoff to meet Russian leadership in St. Petersburg: Norwegian PM (aa.com.tr) — https://aa.com.tr/en/world/-us-special-envoy-witkoff-to-meet-russian-leadership-in-st-petersburg-norwegian-pm/3364951
32. Double whammy for Ukraine: Datagroup's Kyiv data center destroyed in missile strike, Starlink slows down (w.media) — https://w.media/datagroup-kyiv-data-center-destroyed-in-missile-strike-starlink-slows-down/
33. Russian Ballistic Strike Wipes Out Datagroup Data Center, Company Says (kyivpost.com) — https://www.kyivpost.com/post/41065
34. Russian ballistic strike destroys Kyiv data center beyond repair, operator says (hromadske.ua) — https://hromadske.ua/posts/russian-ballistic-strike-destroys-kyiv-data-center-beyond-repair-operator-says
35. Datagroup reported the destruction of its data center in Kyiv (nv.ua) — https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/datagroup-zayavila-pro-znishchennya-svogo-data-centru-v-kiyevi-novini-ukrajini-50470557.html
36. 1 killed in Russian strikes on Ukrainian data center, military-industrial facilities-Xinhua (news.cn) — https://english.news.cn/20261019/521199a4c0ac4736a3e61c313a07cf5b/c.html
37. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet Putin in Moscow (apnews.com) — https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-witkoff-kushner-putin-ceasefire-38c641a96570
38. Trump envoy to meet Putin with new Ukraine peace proposal (axios.com) — https://www.axios.com/2026/10/21/trump-witkoff-kushner-putin-ukraine-proposal
39. Kushner to join Witkoff virtually for Putin meeting on Ukraine peace talks - report (jpost.com) — https://www.jpost.com/international/europe/article-794025
40. Ukraine war latest: US envoy set to meet Putin in Russia after 'constructive' talks with Zelenskyy (euronews.com) — https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/21/ukraine-war-latest-us-envoy-set-to-meet-putin-in-russia-after-constructive-talks-with-zelens
41. Zelenskyy stated that Witkoff will deliver a document with security guarantees to Ukraine to the Kremlin (nv.ua) — https://nv.ua/ukr/world/geopolitics/zelenskiy-zayaviv-shcho-uitkoff-dostavit-do-kremlya-dokument-z-garantiyami-bezpeki-ukrajini-novini-ukrajini-50470597.html
42. Zelenskyy says US assured Ukraine of "strong" security guarantees (pravda.com.ua) — https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/10/20/7424911/
43. Zelensky proposes different ceasefire formats to Witkoff (ukrinform.net) — https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/4066498-zelensky-proposes-different-ceasefire-formats-to-witkoff.html
44. Zelenskyy thanked Witkoff. Russia's response to security guarantees for Ukraine expected within a day (rbc.ua) — https://rbc.ua/eng/news/zelenskyy-thanked-witkoff-russia-s-response-security-1729457223.html
45. Trump Executive Order Waiving Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 Sanctions - HS F Kramer (hsfkramer.com) — https://hsfkramer.com/trump-executive-order-waiving-lindsey-o-graham-sanctioning-russia-and-iran-act-of-2026-sanctions/
46. Trump Waives Russia Sanctions, Further Straining Ukraine Ties | Time (time.com) — https://time.com/6247348/trump-russia-sanctions-waiver-diesel-deal/
47. Trump Executive Order Waives Lindsey O. Graham Act Russia Sanctions (exportcompliancedaily.com) — https://www.exportcompliancedaily.com/news/trump-executive-order-waives-lindsey-o-graham-act-russia-sanctions
48. Trump suspends Russia sanctions on eve of implementation of Lindsey Graham Act | Donald Trump | The Guardian (theguardian.com) — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/16/trump-suspends-russia-sanctions-lindsey-graham-act
49. They could have done much more: Trump "praised" Russia for its actions in Ukraine - UNN (unn.ua) — https://unn.ua/news/3-zniklikh-na-kyyivshchyni-pislya-raketnogo-udaru-rf-ye-postrazhdali
50. Russia Steps Up Attacks On Ukraine As US Warns Zelensky About Oil Refinery Strikes (forbes.com) — https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2026/10/19/russia-steps-up-attacks-on-ukraine-as-us-warns-zelensky-about-oil-refinery-strikes/
51. Explosion in Kyiv on October 19: consequences of Russian shelling, photos (nv.ua) — https://nv.ua/ukr/ukraine/events/vibuh-u-kiyevi-19-zhovtnya-naslidki-rosijskogo-obstrilu-foto-novini-kiyeva-50470535.html
52. Three killed in missile attack on Kyiv Oblast (pravda.com.ua) — https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/10/20/7424909/
53. Daily News Roundup – October 14, 2026 - Just Security (justsecurity.org) — https://justsecurity.org/86820/daily-news-roundup-october-14-2026/
54. US Threatens Curb On Intel Sharing Over Ukraine Oil Strikes - HamerIntel (hamerintel.com) — https://hamerintel.com/us-threatens-curb-on-intel-sharing-over-ukraine-oil-strikes/
55. US threatens Ukraine to stop intelligence sharing over attacks on Russian oil refineries - Axios (nv.ua) — https://nv.ua/ukr/world/geopolitics/ssha-prihrozhuyut-ukrajini-pripiniti-obmin-rozvidinformaciyeyu-cherez-ataki-na-npz-rf-axios-50469614.html
56. Zelenskiy to meet Witkoff as Trump praises Russia and rebukes Ukraine (kfgo.com) — https://kfgo.com/2026/10/20/zelenskiy-to-meet-witkoff-as-trump-praises-russia-and-rebukes-ukraine/
57. 'Russia is a big machine': Trump says Ukraine 'has to want' to settle war with Putin (indiatimes.com) — https://www.indiatimes.com/world/us/russia-is-a-big-machine-trump-says-ukraine-has-to-want-to-settle-war-with-putin-62692211623886000.html
58. What Russia's doing to Ukraine is 'fine,' Trump says - Kyiv Independent (kyivindependent.com) — https://www.kyivindependent.com/what-russias-doing-to-ukraine-is-fine-trump-says/
59. Trump urges Zelensky to make a deal with Russia-Xinhua (people.cn) — https://english.news.cn/20261020/ba7e661005a74e5086ee82e16d4128f7/c.html
60. Trump urges Zelensky to make deal with Russia (chinadailyasia.com) — https://www.chinadailyasia.com/article/308197
61. Ukraine war latest: Zelenskyy meets US envoy in Norway amid diplomatic rift with Trump (euronews.com) — https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/20/ukraine-war-latest-zelenskyy-to-meet-us-envoy-in-norway-amid-diplomatic-rift-with-trump
62. Trump called Russia a "big machine" and praised its advances - UA.NEWS (ua.news) — https://ua.news/en/trump-called-russia-a-big-machine-and-praised-its-advances/
63. Ukraine has to want to settle this war, Trump tells Zelenskyy - The Economic Times (economictimes.com) — https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/ukraine-has-to-want-to-settle-this-war-trump-tells-zelenskyy/articleshow/104618770.cms