KYIV — Russia and Ukraine exchanged fresh accusations Wednesday of breaching a US-mediated agreement to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure, as tensions persist despite a 30-day ceasefire deal brokered last month.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces launched a series of targeted attacks on energy facilities overnight, including an FPV drone strike on a substation in the Sumy region and artillery fire damaging a power line in Nikopol, Dnipro region.
“Nearly 4,000 consumers in these two regions are without electricity due to the attacks,” Zelenskyy said on X, formerly Twitter. “This systematic and constant nature of Russian strikes clearly indicates that Moscow despises the diplomatic efforts of partners.”
The Ukrainian leader warned against delays in responding to Russia's actions. “We should not wait until April 11, when it will be a month since Russia said ‘no’ to the American proposal for a ceasefire,” he said. “New and tangible pressure on Russia is needed to put this war on a path toward ending.”
He added that Ukraine remains ready to work with partners in the U.S., Europe, and around the world “in the most constructive way to achieve this much-needed result — a dignified and lasting peace.”
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that its air defense systems shot down 41 out of 74 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks.
Russia did not immediately respond to Zelenskyy’s claims, but later in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of launching two drone strikes on energy infrastructure in the Kursk border region, which allegedly caused power outages for over 1,500 consumers in the central Kursky district.
The ministry also claimed to have intercepted 93 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 87 over the Kursk region.
The latest flare-up comes just weeks after the U.S. brokered two key agreements between Russia and Ukraine: one to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea, and another to impose a 30-day freeze on strikes against each other’s energy infrastructure. Both sides have repeatedly accused one another of violating the terms. — Agencies
