**Ukraine Accuses Russia of False Flag Attack**
On March 21, Ukraine accused Russia of deliberately attacking a gas metering station in Kursk Oblast. The Ukrainian military said that Russian forces had previously struck the same station with guided aerial bombs.
Russian media earlier claimed that Ukrainian forces had attacked the key gas transit facility, which plays a crucial role in Russian gas exports to Europe. However, Ukraine denied these claims and accused Russia of orchestrating a “provocation.”
The General Staff of the Ukrainian military said in a Facebook post: “The mentioned station was repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves.” They added that Russia had used the main gas pipeline near the facility to conceal troop movements.
This incident comes as Ukraine confirmed its retreat from the town of Sudzha following a rapid Russian advance. Kyiv initially launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024 but has reportedly lost much of the territory in recent weeks.
**Background and Reactions**
Earlier this month, Ukraine released video footage of what it said were Russian sabotage and assault groups using a gas pipeline to gain a foothold on the outskirts of Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
The development follows a call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Putin agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also agreed to stop strikes on Russian energy infrastructure in a phone call with Trump.
French President Emmanuel Macron will host European leaders, including President Zelensky, in Paris on March 27 to discuss the peace process in Ukraine.
**International Response**
The US plans to hold indirect talks between Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia to understand each side’s conditions. Italy signed an agreement with Ukraine to launch a project aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural development and food security in Odesa Oblast.
The European Commission is contemplating significant cuts to Ukrainian sugar imports after complaints from EU producers about plummeting sugar prices.