Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mocked Russia's military drive, stating that the Kremlin has set and postponed 15 deadlines over four years to capture Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. The Ukrainian president's remarks came in response to Vladimir Putin's rejection of a Ukrainian proposal to abandon long-range strikes and scale down fighting.
Zelenskyy Highlights Russian Fuel Shortages
Zelenskyy said Putin's comments showed he was out of touch with Russians facing queues at petrol stations, linked to Ukraine's campaign of strikes on oil industry targets. "Even an oil-producing state – a 'gas station' as Russia has often been called – is now facing fuel shortages," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on Monday. "This is a direct consequence of the war; one of many consequences. It is also one example of how Ukraine responds – with precision, not through terrorism."
Kremlin's Obsession with Donbas
Zelenskyy also noted that the Kremlin had set and later deferred 15 deadlines over more than four years to capture four regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. "Russia's political leadership remains obsessed with Donbas," he said. "If Russia does not end the war, it will have to postpone that deadline once again." Putin on Sunday said Russian forces would press ahead with fully capturing the four regions.
Deadly Russian Attacks Across Ukraine
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed 10 people and wounded dozens on Monday, authorities said. A missile attack in Dnipro killed six and wounded 29, according to the regional governor. Zelenskyy said the strike targeted infrastructure and rescue operations were under way. A Russian drone attack on a passenger minibus in Zaporizhzhia killed two men and a woman and injured eight, including a seven-year-old boy. A glide bomb hit Kharkiv, killing a 23-year-old woman and wounding 10.
Russia Jails Bar Workers for LGBT Activities
A Russian court jailed three bar workers for participating in the "international LGBT community," the first such case since Moscow labelled the community "extremist" in 2023. A court in Orenburg found the owner, administrator, and art director of the Pose bar guilty of organizing "events united by the theme of demonstrating solidarity with people of non-traditional sexual orientation." The three received sentences between two and seven years, and the owner must pay a 1 million rouble fine.
Ukraine's Energy Grid Struggles Under Heatwave
Ukraine's energy grid buckled under temperatures exceeding 36°C amid a European heatwave. Authorities in Rivne introduced emergency power outages, while Khmelnytsky also announced temporary outages. Five other regions warned households and businesses to prepare for blackouts on Tuesday.
Russian Veteran Jailed for Threatening Mutiny
A Russian army veteran who threatened Putin with mutiny was convicted of displaying "extremist" symbols and jailed for 11 days, according to his Telegram account. The former soldier posted videos calling for a meeting with Putin, alleging soldiers were tortured for refusing "mindless, suicidal orders," and threatening mutiny. The Kremlin said the video had "strange wording."
