Deadly Strikes in Kyiv Region
A combined Russian missile and drone attack on the Kyiv region killed at least four people and wounded 15 overnight into Saturday. The head of the regional administration, Mykola Kalashnyk, stated the attack struck four districts, damaging residential buildings, educational institutions, enterprises and critical infrastructure. Kalashnyk added that three of the wounded were in critical condition.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Targeted
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the main target of the strikes was the energy infrastructure of the Kyiv region. Russia launched around 430 drones and 68 missiles, according to Zelenskyy. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the nighttime strikes targeted energy and industrial facilities serving Ukraine's armed forces, as well as military airfields. Consumers in six regions were without electricity, according to Ukraine’s Energy Ministry.
Retaliation in Krasnodar Region
Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery and Port Kavkaz in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, local Russian officials reported. Krasnodar authorities said three people were hurt in the strike on Port Kavkaz, a port opposite Crimea used to ship liquefied natural gas and grains. A service vessel and pier infrastructure were damaged. Falling drone debris also sparked a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery. Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 87 Ukrainian drones during the night, including 16 over the Krasnodar region and 31 over the nearby Sea of Azov.
Impact of Middle East Conflict
The strikes come after the U.S. postponed peace talks between Russia and Ukraine scheduled for this week, citing the war in the Middle East. Zelenskyy said Russia will try to exploit the war in the Middle East to cause even greater destruction in Ukraine. He called on Kyiv's Western partners to pay "one hundred percent attention" to the need to boost the production of air defense missiles.
EU Sanctions Extended
The European Union has voted to renew sanctions against individuals and entities supporting Russia’s war on Ukraine. The EU Council announced that the bloc’s 27 member states agreed on Saturday to extend sanctions targeting some 2,600 individuals and entities with measures like travel restrictions and asset freezes until September 15. EU Council chief Antonio Costa criticized the United States for lifting sanctions on Russian oil exports, saying the move increased “Russian resources to wage the war of aggression against Ukraine.”
Iranian Casualties Mount
In a separate conflict, a missile strike on an industrial area of Isfahan, Iran killed at least 15 people. The strike hit a factory producing heating and cooling equipment, according to the semi-official Fars news agency, which attributed the attack to US and Israeli forces. Iran’s Ministry of Health says the conflict has killed at least 1,444 people and wounded more than 18,500 since the US-Israeli attacks began on February 28.
Calls for Negotiation
Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever called for the EU to be mandated by its member states to negotiate with Russia. He told the Belgian newspaper L’Echo, "Since we are not capable of threatening Putin by sending weapons to Ukraine, and we cannot choke him economically without the support of the United States, there is only one method left: making a deal."
