Just after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to cease all attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, the Kremlin claimed to have neutralised seven of its own drones mid-flight over Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region, following an order from President Vladimir Putin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the drones targetting energy facilities linked to Ukraine’s military-industrial complex were downed by Russian air defences—six by Pantsir missile systems and one by a fighter jet.
However, Ukrainian sources have claimed that the statement was baseless and that the Ukrainian Air Force reported continued missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities on March 19, long after the Trump-Putin call of March 18. A statement by the [Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine](https://t.me/kpszsu) claimed it intercepted Iskander-M and S-300 weapons fired along with 145 Shahed drones and decoys.
Besides, Ukraine also reported explosions and fires from attacks in multiple cities, including on Slovyansk which left part of the city without electricity. All these happened minutes after the call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
The Ukraine’s Air Force, defenders claimed to have shot down 72 Shahed drones and other UAVs across 12 regions, including Kharkiv, Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Poltava. A many as 56 enemy simulator drones were lost in location and Russian targetted Sumy, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, and Chernihiv regions.
There was also an anti-aircraft fire against drones after the call, according to the Kyiv Post. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko also confirmed explosions in the capital city from 11:01 p.m. with the Mayor confirming air defence activity on the right bank of the city. Explosions continued intermittently until the air raid warning was lifted at 2:19 a.m. on March 19, the report added.
Ukrainian sources also believe the statement was likely a "Russian disinformation" aimed at influencing ongoing negotiations and undermining Ukraine’s credibility. There were no self-inflicted Russian drone losses, the sources added.