Russia says it will no longer observe moratorium on strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has announced the end of Russia’s 30-day moratorium on strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. “At present, there have been no further instructions from the supreme commander-in-chief, President Putin,” Peskov told reporters on Friday. 

Vladimir Putin’s spokespeople later clarified that the moratorium could be extended by mutual agreement, though any violations would nullify the deal. A day earlier, on April 17, Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova claimed that Ukraine had violated the month-long moratorium more than 80 times.

Negotiating separately with the U.S., Russia and Ukraine agreed in March to pause attacks on energy sites for 30 days. However, the two sides gave different start dates for the moratorium: Moscow claimed it began on March 18, while Kyiv said it started on March 25. Each side claims to have honored the deal, even as they accuse the other of repeated violations.