Alleged Restriction on Infrastructure Attacks
On January 29, reports surfaced online claiming the Russian Federation has prohibited its military from striking Ukrainian infrastructure. This information was disseminated by Russian military bloggers and received partial confirmation from Konstantin Nemichev, founder of the Kraken unit. However, the Telegram channel 'Nikolaevsky Vanyok' noted that no final decision to halt strikes on energy targets has been made. Official sources, including the defense ministries of both Russia and Ukraine, have not commented on these claims.
A Potential 'Energy Truce'
Konstantin Nemichev expressed the view that
"an energy truce is indeed in effect from both sides"and noted that its practical implementation should be monitored. The 'Nikolaevsky Vanyok' Telegram channel, however, expressed skepticism that the shelling would truly cease, suggesting that even if a restriction was issued to the Russian side, it might only be temporary.
Furthermore, the Financial Times reported that the US and Ukraine had planned to propose an energy truce to Russia during talks in the United Arab Emirates, but no mention of a truce was made following that meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized a readiness to agree to an energy truce, but only if Moscow upholds its commitments.
The reported ban, effective from 07:00, applies to Russian Armed Forces strikes on any targets in Kyiv and the Kyiv region, as well as on all Ukrainian infrastructure.
These reports of a potential Russian ban on attacking Ukrainian infrastructure are significant, given the ongoing military campaign and international diplomatic efforts. Such restrictions, if verified, could signal a tactical shift, though their durability remains uncertain. The lack of official comment from either defense ministry leaves the situation ambiguous and open to change.