Russia and Ukraine exchanged accusations on Friday over an attack on a gas metering station located just a few hundred meters from their shared border in Russia’s Kursk region. The facility, situated in Sudzha, was struck just days after the United States proposed a pause in attacks on energy infrastructure between the two nations.
Russian Claims of Deliberate Attack
The Russian Defense Ministry accused Kyiv of “deliberately attacking” the gas metering station, which has been under Ukrainian control since a surprise incursion by Ukraine into Kursk in August 2024. Moscow further claimed that Ukrainian forces destroyed the facility while “retreating from the Kursk region,” allegedly to undermine US President Joe Biden’s peace initiatives.
Russia Warns of Potential Retaliation
In a statement on Saturday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry warned that it “reserves the right to respond, including with a symmetrical response” to what it called Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Ukraine’s Denial and Counterclaims
Kyiv swiftly rejected these accusations as “groundless” and accused Russia of attempting to discredit Ukraine and mislead the international community. Ukraine’s General Staff posted on Telegram that the station had been repeatedly shelled by Russian forces. They also pointed out that Russia had recently struck the same facility with missiles as recently as three days prior.
“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,” Ukraine’s Presidential Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The Sudzha Gas Station’s Strategic Importance
The Sudzha gas metering station had been the last route through which Russian natural gas was delivered to Europe via Ukraine. However, natural gas transportation through Sudzha was terminated on January 1, 2025, after Kyiv chose not to renew the contract.
Ongoing Territorial Dispute and Calls for Peace Talks
The attack comes more than a week after Russia’s announcement that it had recaptured Sudzha, the largest town occupied by Ukraine during its incursion into Kursk. Ukraine’s temporary occupation of parts of Kursk has become a significant point in ongoing negotiations, seen by many as a bargaining chip in efforts to end the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to temporarily halt attacks on energy targets in Ukraine following a lengthy telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. However, Putin did not commit to a broader ceasefire to end the three-year-long conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also expressed support for a pause in strikes on energy targets.
Upcoming Peace Talks in Riyadh
Discussions on halting the conflict are set to take place in Riyadh next week, with a US delegation expected to meet with Ukrainian officials first, followed by Russian representatives on Monday.
