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Russia claims Ukraine "virtually destroyed" Sudzha Gas Station

Russia accused Ukraine of attacking its energy infrastructure on Friday, despite a ban on such strikes. It said a major piece of gas pipeline in Sudzha was virtually destroyed.

An official from Ukraine said that Russia was responsible for the attack on Sudzha's gas transit point. It was not possible to confirm independently which side was responsible.

Separate agreements were announced by the United States and Russia on February 2 to stop their attacks in the Black Sea, and to target each other's energy. These agreements are potential stepping-stones that Washington hopes can lead to a complete ceasefire and to peace talks that will bring an end to the war.

Each side has accused each other of violating the energy truce. This highlights the fragility and the U.S.-brokered agreement.

Sudzha is located in the western region of Kursk. It's the location of a gas-metering station. This was the transit point from which Russia piped gas across Ukraine to Europe up until the end last year.

The flow of gas ceased on January 1, after Ukraine refused to renew the agreement due to the war. The infrastructure to allow for Russian gas exports to Europe via Ukraine is still in place.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that "on March 28 at around 10:20 the Kyiv regime launched, according to preliminary reports, a double-attack using HIMARS missiles against the Sudzha Gas Metering Station, resulting in a major blaze and virtually destroying the energy facility."

On Telegram, a Ukrainian official of national security wrote: "Russia has once again attacked the Sudzha gas transmission system in Kursk Region (gas metering stations), which it does NOT control."

Russia accused Ukraine earlier of attacking the same site on March 21. Kyiv denied this accusation.

Sudzha is the largest settlement on a Russian piece that Ukraine invaded in August last year. Since then, Russia regained the majority of this area.

The Russian Defence Ministry said Ukraine had also attempted to attack an oil refinery located in Saratov and attacked power stations in Belgorod. Could not confirm its report.

Rosneft's Saratov refinery was previously targeted by Ukrainian drones. Mark Trevelyan (Reporting and Editing)

(source: Reuters)