Russia claims adherence to energy strike truce after Trump-Putin call while accusing Ukraine of violations

 

     Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Putin.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Kyiv of "failing to reciprocate" after an alleged Ukrainian attack on a Russian oil facility in Krasnodar Krai. However, Russian forces launched a massive overnight assault on Ukraine, violating a ceasefire agreement.

Russia maintains that it is upholding the recently negotiated pause on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure while simultaneously accusing Kyiv of failing to do the same, according to Peskov's statements.

This follows an agreement brokered during a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump on March 18. Trump reportedly proposed that both Ukraine and Russia refrain from targeting energy infrastructure for 30 days.

Despite this agreement, on the night of March 19, Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine, deploying 145 Iranian-designed Shahed drones, two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and four S-300 surface-to-air missiles. The strikes hit multiple regions, injuring three civilians in Donetsk Oblast and damaging civilian and energy infrastructure, including a hospital in Sumy, northern Ukraine.

Peskov insisted that Russian forces were still following Putin’s order to halt attacks on energy facilities. “There have been no other commands from the president,” he stated, as reported by Russian news outlet RBC. However, he alleged that Ukrainian forces targeted a Russian energy facility in Kavkazskaya village, Krasnodar Krai, on March 19. The attack caused a fire affecting a pipeline between storage tanks, though no injuries were reported, and 30 employees were evacuated. Peskov claimed this act “contradicts peace efforts.”

Ukraine has frequently targeted Russian energy sites, particularly oil facilities, to disrupt military logistics by reducing fuel supplies for Russian equipment and aircraft. Russia’s economy is heavily dependent on its oil and gas sector, making such attacks strategically significant in limiting its ability to fund military operations.

Russian defense officials further stated that they intercepted seven of their own drones in response to Putin’s ceasefire order following negotiations with the U.S.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy challenged Russia’s claims, stating, “Putin’s words greatly diverge from reality.” He noted that despite Russia’s supposed ceasefire, air raid sirens continued to sound across Ukraine.

While Zelenskyy did not specify locations, he confirmed that energy facilities were among the targets of recent Russian strikes. Regional authorities reported damage to two medical facilities in Sumy Oblast and a warehouse in Poltava Oblast from drone debris.

Zelenskyy also emphasized the need for direct communication with President Trump to clarify “what the Russians proposed to the Americans or what the Americans proposed to the Russians.”

Peskov noted that the topic of Western military supplies to Ukraine was discussed during the Putin-Trump phone conversation and would remain a priority in future talks.

While Putin agreed to Trump’s proposal for a 30-day pause on energy strikes, he also demanded that Ukraine halt its military mobilization and rearmament.

Pro-Kremlin figures expressed confidence in Putin’s ability to manage the negotiations, suggesting that he could manipulate Trump as Russia seeks to separate U.S.-Russia relations from its ongoing campaign in Ukraine.