Ukraine has suffered the highest number of civilian casualties in the war with Russia this month in more than four years, according to government figures.
Russian attacks this month have killed at least 377 civilians and injured 2,129 others, making it the deadliest month of the war since April 2022.
This month’s attacks involved launching a number of difficult-to-intercept ballistic missiles and targeting the Ukrainian capital Kiev multiple times.
Last week, Russia used about 1,700 drones, more than 1,630 guided air bombs and more than 50 ballistic missiles, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Russia’s bet on ballistic terrorism must be crushed,” Zelenskiy said in a post on X Sunday.
“All the interceptors at the moment, if they are here in the Ukrainian system and not in our partner’s warehouses, they are literally helping to save lives,” he added.
President Zelenskiy has frequently called for the expansion of Patriot and other air defense systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
Ukraine has continued its drone and missile attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure over the past week, with multiple refineries targeted. The campaign prompted Russia to extend a ban on diesel exports until the end of the year.
Zelensky warns of possible large-scale attack by Russia
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Saturday that the government would consider lifting the ban on diesel exports “as the market recovers.”
“Although Russian officials increasingly say the economic situation and fuel crisis are stabilizing, many regions of Russia and occupied Ukraine continue to suffer from fuel shortages,” the Institute for the Study of War in Washington said on Saturday.
Russia has retaliated by attacking fuel depots in northern Ukraine and has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea and the Danube River.
Romania’s air force shot down a Russian drone over the Black Sea for the third day in a row on Sunday. The Ministry of Defense announced that the drone was shot down over Romanian territorial waters.
Romanian President Nixor Dan said Russia’s violation of Romanian airspace was “unacceptable and unacceptable.”
The Russian ambassador in Bucharest was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
