When former President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked it was ‘news to him’ that a truce was in effect, though he supported the proposal as a significant step toward ending the war—provided the United States ensures Russia respects the energy truce.
For months, Ukraine and Russia have exchanged strikes targeting energy infrastructure, disrupting supplies on both sides.
Moscow considers the facilities it targets legitimate military objectives supporting Ukraine’s operations, while Kyiv characterizes Ukrainian strikes deep within Russian territory as efforts to diminish Russia’s war financing capacity.
BBC Verify analysis of strikes throughout the conflict shows both sides have intensified attacks ahead of the approaching winter.
According to BBC Verify, 273 strikes have been recorded on Russian-controlled oil and gas facilities in 2026, more than double the 124 recorded during the same period in 2025.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled) indicates Russian attacks affecting Ukraine’s energy network have occurred at a rate 2.4 times higher than recorded so far this year.