Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Energy Strike Moratorium
Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter, accused Ukraine on Wednesday of continuing to attack its energy infrastructure daily, violating a U.S.-brokered 30-day moratorium on strikes against energy facilities.
The agreement, reached on March 18, was intended to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s hopes that such a pause could pave the way for a lasting peace deal.
Since then, both Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of breaching the truce. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, claimed that Ukraine was persistently targeting Russian energy installations.
*"Despite publicly claiming to support the 30-day moratorium on energy facility strikes, the Kyiv regime continues to cynically carry out daily attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure,"* Zakharova stated. *"Meanwhile, Russia strictly adheres to the agreed ban on such strikes."*
Ukraine, however, has denied these allegations and instead accused Russia of ongoing aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy recently reported that Russian forces had launched a drone strike on a thermal power plant in the southern city of Kherson.
Zakharova also addressed NATO’s military posture, asserting that the U.S.-led alliance was significantly boosting defense spending in anticipation of a potential conflict with Russia.
*"NATO continues to view Russia as a long-term threat, even beyond the current conflict in Ukraine,"* she said. *"By escalating military preparations, the North Atlantic Alliance is only fueling tensions and prolonging the confrontation."*
The accusations highlight the fragile nature of the temporary truce, with both sides trading blame while the risk of further escalation remains high.
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