Russia, Ukraine accuse each other of breaking ceasefire terms protecting energy sites

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of breaking U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, highlighting challenges to peace in Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaking the terms of a tentative U.S-brokered deal to pause strikes on energy infrastructure, underscoring the challenges to negotiating a broader peace in the war in Ukraine.

Russia’s Defense Ministry alleged that Ukrainian drone attacks hit an electric facility in the Bryansk region early Wednesday (March 26, 2025) and a power grid facility in the Kursk region on Tuesday (March 25, 2025), leading to a power cut affecting thousands of people.

“The Kyiv regime is doing everything to derail the Russian-U.S. agreements on the gradual settlement of the Ukrainian conflict,” the Ministry said on Wednesday (March 26, 2025).

Ukraine’s General Staff denied the allegations, saying in a statement on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) that Russia’s claims were part of a broader disinformation campaign aimed at justifying continued hostilities.

The accusations came hours after Washington announced on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) that it had reached a tentative agreement with Ukraine and Russia to implement a pause on attacks on energy sites as well as taking steps to ensure safe navigation for ships in the Black Sea. The deal followed three days of separate U.S-Ukrainian and U.S.-Russian talks in the Saudi capital.

Those talks were part of efforts by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to implement a limited, 30-day ceasefire that Moscow and Kyiv agreed to in principle last week. That has thus far failed to materialize as both sides continue to launch drone and rocket attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) that Ukraine had agreed with U.S. negotiators in Riyadh “that a ceasefire for energy infrastructure can start today,” and expressed his country's willingness to comply with the agreement while warning Russia would face “strong retaliation” if it attacked Ukrainian energy facilities.