Russia and Ukraine Exchange Attacks Despite Talk of Ceasefire

Russia and Ukraine carried out airstrikes on each other's infrastructure, just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Russia would stop attacking Ukraine’s energy facilities, BBC reported. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of targeting civilian areas, including hospitals. He said Putin effectively rejected a full ceasefire during a call with former US President Donald Trump, insisting that Ukraine’s allies must stop providing military aid before any truce could happen, a condition already dismissed by European nations.

In southern Russia, officials reported that a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil depot in Krasnodar. Meanwhile, Russia launched more than 40 drones against Ukraine, hitting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital in Sumy, Zelensky said. 

The Russian defence ministry said it shot down 57 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 35 over the border region of Kursk. In Belgorod, another Russian border region, authorities described the situation as “difficult” following Ukraine’s reported ground assault, which Moscow claims to have repelled.

Putin, in his call with Trump, agreed to pause attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure but refused a broader ceasefire. The proposed month-long truce, worked out by US officials with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, was rejected by Russia. Talks on the conflict are set to continue in Jeddah on Sunday.

Ukraine’s energy sector has suffered heavy losses, with Zelensky stating last September that 80% of its infrastructure had been destroyed by Russian attacks. In response, Kyiv has launched drone, and missile strikes deep into Russian territory, targeting oil and gas facilities.