Kremlin Warns Russia May Strike Ukraine’s Energy Over Moratorium Breach

Russia “reserves the right” to strike Ukraine’s energy infrastructure if Kyiv violates a moratorium agreement, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov is quoted by Russian Interfax as saying.

“It would be illogical for us to comply while facing nightly attempts to strike our energy facilities,” Peskov said, adding that Russian forces are still “upholding the moratorium on shelling Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.”

Peskov claimed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine “do not follow their command” and are allegedly targeting Russian energy sites. He also asserted that there is a “total lack of control” within the Ukrainian military.

“If Ukraine joined the moratorium and issued the appropriate orders to its armed forces, then clearly those orders are not being carried out…attempts to carry out these strikes continue on a daily basis,” Peskov said.

On Thursday, Ukraine’s General Staff denied claims by Russia’s Defense Ministry that Ukrainian forces had struck energy facilities, describing the accusations are false.

“From March 25 to 27, Ukraine’s Defense Forces did not launch drone strikes on energy facilities in Russia’s Kursk and Bryansk regions, nor on energy infrastructure in Russian-occupied Crimea,” the General Staff said.

Following the alleged agreement between Russia and Ukraine – brokered by the US – to halt strikes on one another’s energy infrastructure, Russia’s Defense Ministry has accused Kyiv of daily violations.

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Russian forces are struggling to deliver troops, fuel and supplies to the front after Ukrainian strikes on occupied Crimea.

Moscow claims the ceasefire on energy infrastructure has been in place since March 18, although Ukraine has not officially confirmed that date.

Dmytro Lytvyn, communications adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that at least eight confirmed strikes on Ukrainian energy sites have occurred since March 18.

On Friday, he added:

“In the past 24 hours, there have already been at least two confirmed Russian strikes that damaged Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – and that’s without even having the full reports for the day yet.”