Vladimir Putin’s forces are bombing stations along their own crucial gas pipeline in an effort to sabotage any ceasefire deal with Ukraine, Kyiv’s military has said.
A gas pumping station in Sudzha, in the Russian border region of Kursk was on fire on Friday morning after being rocked by a major explosion. Ukraine’s general staff has denied that its forces struck the pipeline and instead said it had been “repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves”.
The army accused Russia of seeking to pin the blame on Ukraine with “groundless” accusations its military was involved – all to undermine any truce and longer peace deal currently being negotiated by Donald Trump and the US.
The Sudzha pipeline has been a critical hub for Russian gas transit to Europe via Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has warned Putin will face “severe consequences” if he breaches any peace deal with Ukraine, as western military planners begin drawing up plans to enforce any agreement between the two countries that Mr Trump and the US is trying to secure.
In Ukraine, a mass drone attack launched by Russia on Odesa overnight caused fires in three different parts of the city.
The Independent View: Starmer’s ‘coalition of the willing’ is a rallying cry
Editorial: Convened by the British prime minister, the meeting of military leaders from more than 20 countries to discuss a peacekeeping force for Ukraine may have jumped the gun. If they are to work together, the UK and EU must first negotiate some key differences:
£25bn Russian assets frozen by UK since start of Ukraine war, Treasury says
Some £25 billion worth of Russian assets have been frozen by the UK Government since the start of the Ukraine war, newly-released figures have revealed.
A report released by the Treasury on Friday revealed the total, which accounts for all assets that have been sanctioned by the UK since February 2022 when the invasion of Ukraine began.
Some 2,001 individuals and entities have been sanctioned under the regime as of March 2024, according to the Treasury.
France restores gunpowder production due to Ukraine war
France has restored its gunpowder production, which it scrapped in 2007.
Explosives manufacturer Eurenco is set to produce some 1,200 tonnes of gunpowder pellets a year, rising to 1,800 tonnes, which would feed into about 100,000 artillery shells,
Most of these French-made artillery shells will head to Ukraine.
Backed by the government and with an investment of 100 million euros of which half came from an EU programme to support the bloc’s defence industry, the firm put together new infrastructure in less than a year.
France has a tradition of producing gunpowder dating back to the 14th Century, and a long history of pride in being self sufficient in arms production.
Eurenco produced gunpowder as far back as World War One. But after the end of the Cold War, weapons production and supply chains were no longer a priority and governments scaled back.
Russia accuses Ukraine of bombing gas pumping station
Russia accused Ukraine of being behind the attack on the Sudzha gas pumping station, saying it had been under the control of Kyiv’s forces “until now” who had used it as a logistics base.
“The blowing up of an important Russian energy facility by Ukrainian army units retreating from the Kursk region is a deliberate provocation by the Kyiv regime,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
“(This) should be viewed as part of a series of recent strikes against the energy infrastructure of the Russian Federation aimed at discrediting the peace initiatives of the president of the United States.”
The region has been the focus of fierce fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in recent weeks, with Moscow’s troops recapturing much of the region which held by Kyiv since August last year.
Locals inspect site of a drone strike in Odesa
Where is Sudzha gas station?
A huge fire has broken out at a Russian gas and pumping station after it was rocked by a major explosion.
The facility in Sudzha is in Russia’s Kursk region near the border with Ukraine.
It was once used by Gazprom to export gas to Europe from Russia visa Ukraine, until Kyiv decided to end the agreement in January this year.
The station was a critical part of the Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhhorod gas pipeline, which was the main route for exporting Russian gas to Europe.
Once it passed through the station, it entered Ukraine’s pipeline system into Slovakia, before going onto the Czech Republic and Austria.
In 2023, almost half of all Russian gas exports to Europe were pumped through the station.
Pressure builds on Meloni to balance EU and Trump relations
Italy’s prime minister is said to be torn between her allegiance to Trump and the EU, as pressure mounts on her to join the EU’s defence drive.
Right-wing politician Giorgia Meloni is balancing her ideological instincts and strategic ties to Europe, analysts have said.
Nathalie Tocci, head of Italy’s Institute of International Affairs think tank, said Meloni could not indefinitely sit on the fence between Washington and Brussels.
“Her heart lies with America, but in the end she will follow her head, which is basically telling her that Italy is in Europe. Our economy is entwined with Germany and you can’t change that,” she told Reuters.
Kremlin says Putin’s order to suspend strikes on energy facilities in Ukraine remains in force
Putin’s order to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy structure is still in place, the Kremlin has said.
Putin agreed to the suspension of such attacks in a phone call with US President Donald Trump. Kyiv, which has said it would be willing to take part in such a partial ceasefire if a document setting out its terms is agreed, has accused Russia of not abiding by Putin’s order, something Moscow denies.
Zelenksy calls for more pressure on Russia after Odesa attack
Volodymyr Zelensky has called for “tougher sanctions” to be imposed on Russia after “massive strikes” in Odesa.
Ukraine’s president said over 200 drones were launched by Russia overnight, with injuries reported in both Odesa and Zaporizhzhia.
He wrote on X: “It is joint pressure on Russia, along with tougher sanctions and stronger defense support for our country, that paves the way to ending this kind of terror and Russia’s prolongation of the war. We expect real pressure on Russia from the United States, Europe, and all our partners. This is what will enable diplomacy to work.”
Russia opens investigation into gas station explosion
Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened an investigation into the explosion and fire at a gas pumping station in the Kursk region.
The committee, which probes serious crimes, said it had opened a criminal case over the incident near the town of Sudzha.
The station was once used by Gazprom to export gas to Europe from Russia visa Ukraine, and is in a region largely recaptured by Russian forces this week after heavy fighting with Ukrainian troops who had held it since last year.
The Ukrainian military has denied involvement in the attack.
Source: independent.co.uk