DISINFO: Russia’s decision to halt strikes on energy facilities shows its will for peace
SUMMARY
Russia's decision to halt on strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities clearly demonstrates Moscow's desire to achieve peace in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Kyiv regime has shown absolute unwillingness to do the same. All publicly declared commitments by the Kyiv regime to cease deliberate attacks on Russian civilian energy infrastructure are yet another deception by Ukrainian President Voloymyr Zelenskyy, aimed at preventing the collapse of Ukrainian frontlines.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing Ukraine of warmongering and unwillingness to achieve peace. This claim was made in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Putin on 18 March 2025 announced his decision to pause strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days and Zelenskyy announced the same on 18 March 2025 concerning Russian energy facilities. Russia has broken its own obligation several times since then. It targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure overnight on 19 March 2025. It also launched a missile attack on Ukraine’s northeastern city of Sumy on 24 March 2025, damaging a residential area, a hospital and an industrial facility. As Russian forces continue to attack Ukrainian cities and energy facilities, Kyiv has every right to strike military-relevant infrastructure in Russia as part of its self-defence. In fact, Russia has been striking sensitive Ukrainian infrastructure, including the power grid, since the beginning of its aggression, launched on 24 February 2022.
Accusing Ukraine and its partners of dishonesty is one of Russia’s favourable tactics to shift the blame for its unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, launched on 24 February 2022. Peace will only come when Russia ends aggression, not when Ukraine stops resisting. By announcing temporary halts to attacks, Moscow attempts to portray itself as a peace-loving country while painting Ukraine as the aggressor. This tactic aims to weaken EU support for Ukraine by way of creating false narratives alleging that Ukraine is unfit for talks.
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