After Russia massively shelled the Ukrainian energy network, there was a brief ceasefire. But Ukraine is also shelling Russian facilities.
G The micro-truce only lasted three days. It was not agreed upon, it was simply the whim of the Russian president. He had received a letter from his American colleague in which he asked that the To release bombardment of the energy supply for a week. Putin then let it be known through his spokesman that he would comply with this wish, but only until February 1st. so not even half a week.
It was not the first time that Russia had not shelled the Ukrainian infrastructure for a few days. But this time it is being sold as a gesture of goodwill. One can only speculate about the reasons. One reason could be that both sides understand that they gain more from a moratorium than from a mutual bombardment of energy infrastructure. Maybe they were 30 Grad minuswhich are expected in Ukrainian and Russian cities this week, one motivation. After all, it is not only the population of Ukraine that is suffering from Russian attacks on the energy system.
Ukraine is also destroying thermal power plants, substations and other energy facilities in Russia. The opposition Russian YouTube channel Khodorkovsky live reports on a collapse of the energy system in Belgorod, Russia, caused by Ukrainian attacks. This short-term stop in the shelling of energy supply systems is a small step towards de-escalation.
Such steps are needed now. This short-term moratorium on shelling of energy facilities was not, or is not, the only micro-ceasefire in this war against Ukraine. Time and time again, the guns fall silent when repair work is necessary at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant or when prisoners are exchanged. It remains to be hoped that the current moratorium on shelling energy facilities will continue beyond February 1st. It saves lives.
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