Putin is preparing an alibi to strike Ukraine’s energy sector - Center for Countering Disinformation

"Putin, unfortunately, is preparing an informational alibi for strikes on Ukraine’s energy sector. In Beijing, he claimed that Russia 'never targeted energy facilities' and only carries out retaliatory strikes in response to Ukrainian attacks on the oil industry," Kovalenko noted.

He stressed that such a statement by Putin is pure falsehood, because since 2022, Russian forces have regularly attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. In this way, Russia wages war against civilians.

Notably, enemy attacks on energy facilities take place during preparations for the heating season as well as in the middle of winter.

Kovalenko emphasized that this year, Russian strikes on energy sites have not stopped at all in regions bordering Russia.

"Now Putin is trying to cover up his ongoing strikes and lies about responsibility for oil refineries, even though it was Russia that started the war, the energy attacks, and has never stopped them," he added.

The head of the Center for Countering Disinformation clarified that Putin regularly takes part in Russia’s information operations, attempting to shift responsibility for further terror onto Ukrainians themselves.

Attack on Chornomorsk

On the night of August 31, Russian forces launched drone strikes on Chornomorsk in the Odesa region. As a result of the attack, the city was left without power.

At the same time, the water supply system had to be switched to generators.

DTEK (Ukraine's largest private energy company - ed.) clarified that Russia’s targets were four energy facilities in the Odesa region.