Ukraine and Russia have conflicting lists of energy facilities that are supposed to be protected under a partial ceasefire, Ukraine’s Energy Ministry stated on March 26.
According to the ministry, Kyiv and Washington agreed on a list of critical Ukrainian energy sites that should be off-limits to attacks. However, this differs from the list that Russia and the U.S. finalized a day earlier.
Russia Claims a Ceasefire, but Strikes Continue
On March 25, the Kremlin announced that Moscow and Washington had agreed to ban attacks on certain Russian and Ukrainian energy infrastructure. This includes:
- Oil refineries, pipelines, and storage facilities
- Power plants, substations, and transformers
- Nuclear power stations and hydroelectric dams
However, Ukraine’s version of the list is broader. It includes all electric power, oil and gas, nuclear, and coal industry facilities, as well as energy equipment manufacturing plants.
Most notably, Ukraine’s oil and gas production facilities—recent primary targets of Russian attacks—were not included in the Kremlin’s list, the Energy Ministry told European Pravda.
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Eight Russian Attacks on Energy Sites Since March 18
Despite Russia claiming to have paused strikes on Ukrainian energy sites since March 18, Ukraine has reported at least eight confirmed attacks on its energy infrastructure since that date, according to presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn.
At the same time, Russia accused Ukraine of launching drone strikes on Russian energy facilities and occupied Crimea on March 26—a claim Kyiv has denied.
Black Sea Ceasefire Hinges on Sanctions
On March 25, Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. also agreed to eliminate military threats in the Black Sea. This includes preventing the use of commercial vessels for military operations.
However, Moscow insists the Black Sea ceasefire will only take effect if certain Western sanctions are lifted, while maintaining that the energy truce has been in place since March 18.
Conclusion
While negotiations continue, the gap between Ukraine and Russia’s energy ceasefire lists highlights ongoing tensions. With attacks still happening, the question remains: Will a true ceasefire ever be enforced?
