Russia complains to US as it strikes Ukrainian power grid again despite supposed truce

Moscow, Russia - Russia said Tuesday that it had complained to the US about Ukrainian strikes on its energy sites, hours after Kyiv reported a Russian attack had left tens of thousands without power.

Russia lodged a complaint with the US over Ukrainian attacks on energy sites over the weekend.
Russia lodged a complaint with the US over Ukrainian attacks on energy sites over the weekend.  © via REUTERS

Each side has accused the other of breaking a supposed deal to stop firing on energy sites, though a formal agreement has not been put in place and what commitments each side has undertaken remain unclear.

Following separate meetings with US officials, the White House said both Ukraine and Russia had "agreed to develop measures for implementing" an "agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine".

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed allegations of Ukrainian "violations" in a private meeting of top security officials on Tuesday.

Russia responds to Zelensky's U-turn on negotiations amid clash with Trump
Russia Russia responds to Zelensky's U-turn on negotiations amid clash with Trump

"We passed a list of violations... to the US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after the meeting.

"I have passed this list to the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio," he added.

Russia's defense ministry earlier accused Kyiv of striking Russian energy sites in the Russian region of Belgorod and the partially Moscow-controlled Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine says thousands left without power after latest Russian attacks

Russia has been pummeling Ukraine's energy sector since the beginning of its invasion in February 2022.
Russia has been pummeling Ukraine's energy sector since the beginning of its invasion in February 2022.  © Photo by Handout / UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE / AFP

The allegations come hours after Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said tens of thousands were left without power in the southern Kherson region by a Ukrainian strike.

Local authorities later said power supplies had been restored.

Russia has launched systematic aerial attacks on Ukrainian power plants and grid since invading in February 2022.

Pete Hegseth pauses US cyber offensive against Russia
Russia Pete Hegseth pauses US cyber offensive against Russia

Putin last month rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional and full ceasefire.

Sybiga also said Kyiv and Washington were holding fresh talks on a minerals agreement that would give the United States access to Ukrainian natural resources in return for more support.

The two countries had planned to sign a deal in February on extracting Ukraine's strategically important minerals, until a spectacular televised White House clash between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky derailed the agreement.

Trump on Sunday warned Zelensky he would have "big problems" if Kyiv rejected the latest US proposal, details of which have not been published by either side.

Cover photo: via REUTERS

More on Russia: