Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that his forces will intensify pre-emptive strikes on facilities deep inside Russia to cripple Vladimir Putin's ability to launch attacks. In one of his most strident statements on Kyiv's deep-strike operations, he vowed that Ukrainian intelligence and special forces will ensure "Russians feel this war exists."
Zelensky's Directive and Immediate Action
Mr Zelensky's warning was issued just hours before Ukrainian special forces launched another long-range attack on a major fuel depot in the southern Krasnodar region. This was the second such assault in less than two weeks and part of a broader campaign targeting Russia's war infrastructure. Mr Zelensky stated: "I instructed our intelligence services and military to act preemptively against facilities Russia uses to expand its war effort."
The campaign is a direct response to Russia's attacks on Ukrainian cities and villages, including in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Poltava, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions. He emphasized: "This Russian cruelty and aggression is the root cause of the war. And it is important that Russians feel that this war exists – and that it exists because of them."
Russia's Air Defence Relocation
Mr Zelensky noted that Russia is moving a significant portion of its air defences to protect key targets, including Moscow, as Ukraine's long-range drones continue to hit strategic sites. This redeployment aims to shield critical assets from Ukraine's escalating deep-strike operations.
Pressure on Belarus
Meanwhile, the Kremlin is intensifying pressure on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to expand Belarusian involvement in the war. The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this week: "The Kremlin is intensifying pressure on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to expand Belarusian involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine." The ISW assessment added: "Lukashenko continues trying to resist the Kremlin's demands while maintaining Russia’s approval."
Sources suggest the Kremlin is urging Mr Lukashenko to allow drone attacks to be launched from Belarusian territory into Ukraine. Russian intelligence officers have indicated that the Kremlin is threatening to withdraw financial support from Belarus if it does not comply. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed on June 24 that Russia will always stand by Belarus and repel threats against it, including from Ukraine, citing their security and economic alliance.
Belarus's Stance
The ISW assessment notes: "Minsk is trying to balance maintaining Russian support for Belarus while maintaining what remains of Belarus’ degraded sovereignty." Mr Lukashenko has resisted allowing Russia to operationalize the Belarusian Armed Forces for Russian operations in Ukraine or to recruit Belarusians into the Russian military at scale since 2022. Senior Belarusian officials continue to avoid adopting the Kremlin's framing that portrays Ukraine as a threat to Belarus. Mr Lukashenko continues to stall and deflect the Kremlin's intensified attempts to drag Belarus into the war while maintaining relatively neutral rhetoric towards Ukraine.
Impact of Ukraine's Strikes
Ukraine's deep-strike campaign has targeted fuel depots, military infrastructure, and other key assets, aiming to degrade Russia's ability to sustain its offensive. The strikes are part of a broader strategy to disrupt Russian logistics and reduce the intensity of attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
