With the conflict between Russia and Ukraine still raging, both sides are now reportedly in early talks regarding ceasing attacks on each other’s energy and power facilities.

Several media outlets, citing unnamed Ukrainian officials, reported that Ukraine has been trying to restart and conclude talks that began last August.

The talks are reportedly being mediated by Qatar.

Over the past 12 months both Ukraine and Russia have carried out multiple missile and drone strikes on the other’s power facilities, targeting oil and gas storage facilities and some oil refineries, as the conflict intensifies.

Russian facilities have required extensive maintenance and repairs over the past year as they were targeted.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said previously that both sides needed to reach an agreement to stop attacking crucial civilian energy and food infrastructure.

In late September, a report by the UN’s Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine concluded that Russian air strikes on Ukraine’s electricity generation, transmission and distribution facilities likely violate international humanitarian law.

Earlier last month, the UK imposed sanctions on ten vessels it claims are operating as part of Vladimir Putin’s ‘shadow fleet’ in the latest attempt to limit Russia’s revenues.

Russia’s extensive fleet consists of frequently unseaworthy and ageing tankers that ship Russian gas and oil products worldwide. The country heavily relies on oil exports as the primary funding source for the war in Ukraine, making up approximately 25% of the Russian budget in 2023.