Ukraine claimed Saturday that Russia fired more than 620 drones and long-range missiles at night, killing four individuals and leading Kyiv to urge new sanctions to prevent Moscow’s unabating attacks.
The bombardment occurred as US-brokered ceasefire negotiations to put an end to the more than three-year war were stalled. Both Moscow and Kyiv have stepped up air attacks in recent months.
Sights of the Attack
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, “Twenty-six cruise missiles and 597 attack drones were launched, of which over half were ‘Shaheds’,” referring to drones made in Iran and being used by Russia.
The air force of Ukraine reported that it intercepted 319 Shahed drones and 25 missiles. However, approximately 20 drones and one missile still hit ‘five locations’, although the military did not give details.
Casualties Throughout Ukraine
The attacks killed at least two and 20 were injured in Chernivtsi, a western Ukrainian city distant from the fighting front lines. Six were hurt in the western city of Lviv. Two people were killed and three injured in the eastern city of Kharkiv, while two were killed in Dnipropetrovsk, eastern officials said.
Russia’s defense ministry stated that its strikes targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial plants in Lviv, Kharkiv, and Lutsk, and a military airbase.
Later on Friday, drone and shelling attacks by Ukraine reportedly killed three individuals within Russia.
Diplomatic and Military Trends
US special envoy Keith Kellogg will travel to Ukraine on Monday for his newest visit, despite Washington’s larger peace effort faltering.
On Friday, the Kremlin again reaffirmed its opposition to European peacekeepers in Ukraine. This followed a statement from French President Emmanuel Macron that Kyiv’s allies have an implementation plan ‘ready to go. in the hours after a ceasefire’.
US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin recently, but later stated that there was no breakthrough towards ending the war. Russian President Putin, according to the Kremlin, while continuing to hold negotiations, would stay firm on Russia’s war objectives.
Russia has continued to assert its objectives being to address the “root causes” of the war and pressuring Ukraine away from ambitions for joining NATO.
Zelensky Calls for Stronger Sanctions, Additional Weapons
Zelensky disclosed on Thursday that Trump had given solid timelines to resume US arms deliveries and planned to make a statement regarding Russia by Monday. Kyiv’s military is dependent mainly on Western assistance, and a US move last week to suspend some deliveries was a reversal.
On Saturday, Zelensky pressured the Western powers to act decisively to stop Russia’s aggression.
“The rhythm of Russian aerial bombardments calls for quick decisions and can be slowed down now by sanctions,” he said.
He also demanded penalties against individuals who ‘assist Russia in manufacturing drones and earning from oil’. Russia’s economy still relies significantly on oil exports, even with existing Western sanctions.
Impact on Global Markets
Sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion in 2022 left grain and fertiliser exports untouched, since Russia is the planet’s largest producer of fertilisers. Prices rocketed instead, further exacerbating global food security fears.
In July 2022, the UN arranged with Russia to relax food and fertiliser exports and contribute to keeping prices in check. But on Friday, the UN denied the agreement would be extended when it runs out on July 22. Russia has frequently claimed the arrangement does not protect it from indirect effects of global sanctions.
