- Russia's defence ministry says it is preparing large-scale strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, framing the move as retaliation for Kyiv's attacks on Russian territory, as the death toll from a Russian strike on an ammunition depot near the Ukrainian capital climbed to 38.
- Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the death toll from a munitions depot strike in Myla has risen to 38, with 20 people injured and four still missing.
- Zelensky noted that the extent of contamination in the area is significant as emergency crews worked to extinguish the remaining fires and bomb disposal teams cleared the site.
- Overall, Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 130 drones of various types between late Saturday and early Sunday, according to the Ukrainian air force.
- Ukraine struck the Kirishi oil refinery in Russia's Leningrad region with drones, causing a fire, according to local Russian authorities.
- Ukrainian officials warned of possible additional Russian mobilization of 300,000 more troops this year and another 300,000 next year.
- The warning from Russia's defence ministry revives fears of a repeat of last winter, when Moscow's bombardment of Ukrainian power plants devastated the country's grid and left millions without heat or electricity in sub-zero temperatures.
- The Myla strike capped a third consecutive day of Russian aerial bombardment, among the most sustained since spring.
- Ukrainian prosecutors have opened a criminal negligence investigation focused on why explosives were being stored so close to homes.
- Kyiv has increasingly targeted Russia's energy and oil infrastructure as part of a strategy to pressure Moscow economically toward ending the war.
- Pavlo Palisa, deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, stated that Russian military chiefs have been tasked with planning and preparing for attacks on both the Ukrainian capital and the city of Chernihiv.
- Defense Minister of Ukraine Yevhenii Khmara indicated that Russia's mobilization is a reaction to its problems in the war and increasing losses at the front.
Russia's defense ministry has announced preparations for massive strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, citing ongoing attacks by Kyiv on Russian facilities. This escalation follows a deadly strike on a munitions depot in Myla, which resulted in 38 fatalities and significant damage to surrounding areas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the Myla strike injured 20 individuals and left four missing. The attack caused secondary explosions, damaging around 50 buildings and forcing the evacuation of over 380 residents. Among the deceased was Taras Didych, the mayor of Dmytrivka, marking one of the deadliest incidents in Kyiv's suburbs since the invasion began.8
In response to the escalating conflict, Zelensky noted that nearly 2,000 strike drones and over 1,600 aerial bombs were launched by Russian forces in just one week. The defense ministry's statement emphasized that these strikes are a form of retribution for attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials, including Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, have expressed concerns over Russia's intentions to cripple Ukraine's energy system. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara indicated that Russia may mobilize an additional 600,000 troops over the next two years, reflecting the Kremlin's ongoing challenges in the war.6
As tensions rise, both sides continue to escalate their military strategies, raising fears of a repeat of last winter's devastating attacks on Ukraine's energy grid.
“The Myla depot strike, which killed 38 and injured 20, triggered a massive detonation that damaged around 50 buildings and forced the evacuation of over 380 residents. Ukrainian prosecutors have opened a criminal negligence investigation into why explosives were stored so close to homes.”
Euronews.com
politico.eu
