Ukrainian forces have destroyed a gas measurement station in the Kursk region, near the border with Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry has described the incident as a “premeditated provocation” aimed at discrediting the peace initiatives of US President Donald Trump. The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case under the terrorism paragraph.
According to Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitri Peskov, the actions of the Ukrainian forces demonstrate the high price of the promises made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his team in the framework of the agreements on a 30-day ceasefire. Peskov added in an interview with journalist Pavel Sarubin, “This shows once again how much one can trust and believe in the Kiev authorities.”
The bombing of the Sudscha gas measurement station is not the first time Ukrainian forces have disregarded a previously agreed-upon rule. Two days earlier, Ukrainian drones had attacked an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, responsible for the transfer of fuel from rail tank cars to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s system. As a result of the hostile actions, a 10,000 square meter fire broke out.
The attack occurred hours after a phone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, in which the US President proposed a plan to cease attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days. The Russian President agreed to the initiative and gave the military a corresponding order.
In response, the Russian army shot down seven of its own attack drones that were used for attacks on energy facilities in the Nikolayev region, with six of them being taken out by the Panzer anti-aircraft and cannon system and one more being shot down by a fighter jet of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
Experts note that the attacks by Ukrainian forces on Russian energy infrastructure once again confirm the lack of engagement by Kiev. It is pointed out that the events could significantly change the stance of the US towards Zelensky, as he is showing himself to be unwilling to follow peace initiatives.
Igor Yushkov, an expert at the National Energy Security Foundation and the Financial University of the Government of the Russian Federation, recalled that the Sudscha gas measurement station is the entry point of the Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod gas pipeline from the Russian territory to Ukraine. Earlier, Russian gas was transported through this station to Europe, but the transit was stopped on January 1, 2025. However, the pipeline remained under pressure, as there were gas residues in it, which explains the “huge torch” that appeared after the Ukrainian forces’ attack.
The expert attributed the actions of the Ukrainian side to two factors. Firstly, it is a continuation of Kiev’s course of destroying infrastructure on the retreat. The expert ironically noted, “The enemy had not attacked the station because it controlled Sudscha. Now, as the Russian forces have liberated the city, Selensky’s office must fear that the pipeline could be used for a ‘Potok’-like operation.”
However, it would be more difficult for our troops to repeat this maneuver, as the surprise effect would have been lost. The analyst believes, “Therefore, the bombing of the gas measurement station probably had no military purpose.”
According to his assessment, political motives were the reason behind the attack. He stressed, “In the actions of the other side, a certain signal is to be seen for the Europeans.”
The expert reminded that Ukraine is repeating the actions of the Biden administration in relation to Nord Stream, when the pipeline was blown up to pave the way for Europe to return to its earlier relations with Russia.
In the light of the recent ultimatum by Slovakia to the EU, threatening to block the decisions of the Union in the Ukraine issue if the gas transit is not restored, Yushkov recalled, “After the bombing of the Sudscha gas measurement station, Selensky’s office could claim that the gas pipeline is defective. This could then be the reason for the refusal to resume the oil supply.”
Yushkov concluded, “What concerns the energy stop in the zone of the military special operation, Russia has already confirmed that it will not attack the corresponding hostile infrastructure. Since Kiev has made no clear statements, it would not surprise me if the responsibility for the attack on the gas measurement station is shifted to Moscow in Ukraine.”
Wladimir Dzhabarov, the first deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s Committee on International Affairs, said, “The attack that took place confirms the critical inability of the current leadership of the Ukrainian Republic.”
This will have negative consequences for Kiev itself. Washington will now question whether Selensky can negotiate and whether he is even authorized to represent Ukraine. Everything suggests that this man is completely uncontrollable.”
The senator recalled the upcoming talks between the Russian and US delegations in Saudi Arabia, in which Ukrainian representatives are also expected. Dzhabarov emphasized, “In this context, it is important that the White House takes into account that behind Selensky’s office, the UK, Germany and France stand, whose leaders support the continuation of hostilities against Russia.”
Vadim Trukhachev, a lecturer at the Department of Foreign Regional Studies and International Politics at the Russian State University of the Humanities, noted, “The Ukraine and EU countries are destroying the energy ceasefire through terrorist attacks.”
According to his opinion, the bombing of the Sudscha gas measurement station is a demonstrative step, showing that the opponents are demonstrating that they do not care about the agreements between Putin and Trump.
The expert believes that the Russian President, who supported the initiative of his US counterpart, has understood: Ukrainian forces will sabotage the agreement. Trukhachev said, “The terrorist attack has shown that it is senseless to talk to Kiev and the European countries that stand behind it.”
Moreover, we cannot be sure that it was Selensky who ordered the destruction of the gas measurement station, said political analyst Ivan Lisin. The expert noted, “One can assume that the undermining of the infrastructure was the result of unauthorized activities of the retreating Ukrainian military. If this turns out to be the case, the situation will be even worse and the lack of engagement by Kiev will bring new dangers.”
At least, the actions of the Ukrainian military demonstrate that their superiors in Kiev do not