In a significant escalation, Russia conducted a drone attack on the Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv overnight, a key access point to the Black Sea, while also targeting Kryvyi Rih. Ukrainian officials have described this as the most substantial drone attack on Kryvyi Rih to date.
On a diplomatic front, the United States announced separate agreements yesterday with both Ukraine and Russia that aim to halt attacks over the Black Sea and against energy targets. However, the specifics of when and how these agreements will take effect remain uncertain.
The mayor of Mykolaiv reported early emergency power outages in the city today, which followed an announcement from the region’s governor regarding the destruction of seven drones overnight. It remains unclear whether these outages were a precautionary measure or a direct consequence of the drone strike on Mykolaiv.
“Apparently, this is how the occupiers ‘want peace,'” remarked Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the military administration, via the Telegram messaging app. He characterized the attack as the largest drone offensive on the city to date, adding, “Most importantly, there were no deaths or injuries.”
Details about the scale and specific targets of the attack on Kryvyi Rih are not yet fully known; however, Mr. Vilkul had previously noted at least 15 significant explosions in this city, which is President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown and frequently a target of Russian aggression.
Following the announcements of ceasefire agreements, both nations have traded accusations of initiating drone strikes against one another.
In response to the US statements, the Kremlin insisted that the Black Sea agreements would not be enacted unless certain Russian banks were re-established in the international financial system. In contrast, President Zelensky stated that, to his understanding, the truce agreements required no such sanction relief to be implemented immediately. He described the Kremlin’s rebuttal as an attempt to “manipulate” the agreements.
“They are already trying to distort agreements and, in fact, deceive both our intermediaries and the entire world,” Mr. Zelensky declared during his nightly video address.
Both nations expressed their intention to count on the US for enforcement of the agreements while also showing skepticism regarding the other’s commitment. “We will need clear guarantees,” stated Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “Given the sad experience of previous agreements with just Kyiv, the only reliable guarantees are likely to come from Washington’s directives to Zelensky and his administration.”
Should Russia fail to honor the agreements, Mr. Zelensky indicated that he would seek further sanctions against Russia and additional weaponry for Ukraine, affirming, “We have no faith in the Russians, but we will be constructive.”
On the prospective pause in hostilities, President Zelensky expressed a commitment to being “constructive.”
The Kremlin announced it had reached an agreement with the US for a 30-day cessation of attacks on energy targets in both countries, starting from March 18, the date when President Putin first discussed this with Mr. Trump. Russia also indicated that it would be open to extending the agreement.
Ukraine previously specified that it would only accept such a pause following a formal agreement. Both countries have engaged in aggressive strikes against each other’s energy infrastructure, forming a critical aspect of the ongoing conflict.
This new initiative for a truce regarding energy targets comes amidst a broader maritime security discussion. Since the onset of the war, Russia enforced a de facto naval blockade on Ukraine, exacerbating a global food crisis by preventing the shipment of grain—the Ukraine being one of the world’s largest producers. Lately, maritime confrontations have lessened following Russia’s withdrawal of naval forces from the eastern Black Sea after various successful Ukrainian operations.
Despite the collapse of an earlier UN-brokered agreement for Black Sea shipping, Ukraine has managed to reopen its ports and restore grain exports to levels close to pre-war times, although its ports have continued to suffer from regular aerial attacks. Mr. Zelensky indicated that the new agreement would prohibit such strikes.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov warned that any movement of Russian military vessels beyond the eastern Black Sea would be viewed as a violation, justifying a self-defensive response from Ukraine.
Moreover, the Kremlin reiterated that sanctions relief would be essential, including re-establishing connections between Russia’s agricultural export bank and the SWIFT international payment system. Achieving this could necessitate broader agreements among European nations.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
