Russia has carried out a massive overnight attack on 14 regions of Ukraine, as Ukrainian forces struck back at Russian oil refineries. The conflict escalated further when one woman was reported killed and 30 people, including children, injured in the strikes across various areas, including Zaporizhzhia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia deployed nearly 540 drones and 45 missiles, urging for stronger sanctions against Moscow. Following the attacks, Russia claimed to have achieved their military objectives, though this assertion has yet to be independently verified.
The recent onslaught comes on the heels of a particularly intense week of aerial assaults in Kyiv, which resulted in significant casualties and damage. Reports indicated that Dnipro, a key southeastern city, suffered extensive destruction, with threats of further military advances reported.
In retaliation, Ukraine's military successfully targeted oil refineries in Krasnodar and Syzran, both crucial components of the Russian energy sector. Ukrainian officials noted several explosions and resulting fires at the facilities, although Russian authorities claimed that there were no casualties.
This renewed aggression occurs concurrently with international diplomatic efforts aimed at negotiating peace between the two nations, which remain in a state of deadlock. European ministers are meeting to discuss the crisis, with sanctions against Russia being a primary focus. Amid these discussions, Zelensky expressed disappointment over Russia's lack of commitment to peace, pushing for a united global response to the ongoing conflict.
