This month, Ukraine has recorded its highest civilian death toll in the ongoing conflict with Russia in over four years, based on official statistics.
Russian offensives this month have resulted in the deaths of at least 377 civilians and left 2,129 injured, making it the most lethal month since April 2022.
The recent strikes have featured a significant number of ballistic missiles, which are challenging to defend against, and have frequently targeted Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia has deployed nearly 1,700 drones, over 1,630 guided aerial bombs, and more than 50 ballistic missiles within the past week.
“We need to undermine Russia’s strategy of using ballistic terror,” Zelensky stated in a message on X on Sunday.
“Every missile interceptor in our possession is crucial for saving lives if it is deployed within Ukrainian defense systems, rather than stored in the warehouses of our allies,” he continued.
To emphasize Zelensky’s assertion, local authorities reported that a Russian drone strike on a supermarket in Chernihiv resulted in the deaths of a 10-year-old child and an adult, with three others sustaining injuries.
Zelensky has consistently requested additional Patriot and other air defense systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
In the past week, Ukraine has also intensified its drone and missile operations targeting Russian energy facilities, with various refineries coming under attack. This has prompted Russia to prolong its diesel export ban until the year’s end.
Alexander Novak, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, mentioned on Saturday that the government may contemplate lifting the diesel export ban “as the market stabilizes.”
“Numerous regions in Russia and occupied Ukraine are still facing fuel shortages, although Russian officials are increasingly claiming that the economic situation and fuel crisis are improving,” stated the Institute for the Study of War in Washington on Saturday.
In response, Russia has launched attacks on fuel depots in northern Ukraine and has increased its strikes on Ukrainian ports located in the Black Sea and the Danube River.
For the third day in a row, the Romanian air force intercepted a Russian drone over the Black Sea on Sunday, with the defence ministry confirming it was brought down within Romanian territorial waters.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan stated that it is “unacceptable and intolerable” for Russia to breach Romanian airspace.
On Sunday, the Russian ambassador in Bucharest was called to the Foreign Ministry for a meeting.
