Russia and Ukraine exchanged accusations on Friday over an attack on a gas metering station in Russia’s Kursk region, located just a few hundred meters from the border between the two nations.
The strike on the facility in Sudzha occurred just days after the United States suggested that both countries refrain from targeting energy infrastructure.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Ukrainian forces “deliberately attacked” the station, which had been under Ukraine’s control since its unexpected incursion into the Kursk region in August 2024.
Moscow alleges that Ukrainian troops destroyed the facility while withdrawing, claiming it was an attempt to undermine the US president’s peace efforts.
Ukraine dismissed these allegations as baseless, arguing that they serve to mislead the global community.
“Indeed, the station has been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves,” Ukraine’s General Staff stated in a Telegram post on Friday, asserting that Russian forces had targeted the same facility with missiles just three days prior.
Ukraine’s Presidential Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, took to X to refute Moscow’s claims, stating, “The attempts by the Russians to deceive everyone and pretend that they are adhering to the ceasefire will not work, (neither) will the fake news about the strikes on the gas station.”
The Sudzha gas metering station previously served as the last route for Russian natural gas exports to Europe via Ukraine.
However, gas transit through the facility ceased on January 1, 2025, after Kyiv declined to extend its contract.
This attack follows Russia’s announcement more than a week ago that its forces had reclaimed Sudzha, the largest settlement Ukraine occupied during its push into Kursk.
Control over parts of Kursk has been Ukraine’s main leverage in ongoing diplomatic pressure to negotiate an end to the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a temporary pause on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure after an extensive phone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
However, he stopped short of agreeing to a broader ceasefire to end the three-year conflict.
Following his own discussion with United States President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Wednesday that he would also support a halt to attacks on energy sites.
