Russia accuses Ukraine of striking energy facilities in border region of Belgorod

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia on Sunday accused Ukraine of continuing to violate a moratorium reached last month on strikes against each other’s energy facilities, claiming that two such facilities in its border region of Belgorod were hit over the past day.

On March 18, the US brokered two agreements between Russia and Ukraine – one to “ensure safe navigation” in the Black Sea and another for a 30-day halt on attacks targeting energy infrastructure – which took effect following talks in Saudi Arabia.

Despite the agreements, both sides have frequently accused each other of violating the pause on energy-related strikes.

A Russian Defense Ministry statement claimed that Moscow recorded two strikes on its energy infrastructure over the past 24 hours, the first of which took place on Friday evening when an attack disconnected a 10 kV high-voltage line in the border region.

“More than 600 household consumers in the Shebekinsky District were left without power supply,” the statement said.

It further claimed that consumers in the village of Stepnoye were left without power supply due to an attack on another facility.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Russia’s claims.