ISTANBUL

Russia accused Ukraine on Monday of targeting an oil pumping station in the country’s southern Krasnodar region in an overnight drone attack.

A statement by the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukraine targeted the Kropotkinskaya pumping station around 2 a.m. local time using a drone, but it was intercepted 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the facility.

It said that fragments from the intercepted drone fell in the area near the Kavkazskaya railway station, part of the country’s North Caucasus railway network.

The statement said that Ukraine previously targeted the facility in February, resulting in it being taken out of service for repair and restoration work, adding that Kyiv also targeted a facility near the village of Kavkazskaya last week.

On Saturday, Kyiv also launched two drone strikes on the Valuiki gas distribution station in the settlement of Shvedunovka in the Belgorod region, it said, adding the facility's technological equipment was damaged as a result.

“Thus, contrary to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy's statements, including those conveyed to the American side, the Kyiv regime continues to deliberately plan, prepare and carry out attacks on energy infrastructure, including international, on the territory of the Russian Federation,” the statement added.

The statement came as both Russia and Ukraine agreed to a temporary halt on strikes against each other's energy infrastructure on Tuesday, though both sides have been reporting continued strikes since, despite the US’s diplomatic push to establish a peace deal.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Ukrainian strikes can be monitored both by Russia and the US.

"We are closely monitoring the situation. Well, actually, our American counterparts also have the opportunity to track it and draw appropriate conclusions," he said.

He added that despite violations of the agreement by Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not altered his directive against targeting energy infrastructure.

"So far, there have been no other commands from the president. Our armed forces carry out all the instructions of the supreme commander," he stressed.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Russia’s claims.