Ukraine is reinforcing its northern regions and increasing diplomatic pressure on Belarus amid fears that Russia is planning a new offensive from the north, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned. Speaking on day 1,548 of the war, Zelenskyy said Kyiv had identified five scenarios drawn up by Russia for operations in the Chernihiv-Kyiv direction. 'Our forces in this sector will be increased,' he stated.
Ukraine's top army commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed that intelligence indicated the Russian general staff was actively planning offensive operations from the north. The threat echoes the early days of the 2022 invasion, when Russian troops marched on Kyiv from Belarus with the permission of dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Zelenskyy expressed frustration at the persistent danger, warning that any Belarusian involvement would bring 'significant consequences'.
Despite the warnings, Ukraine's border guards spokesperson, Andriy Demchenko, reported no immediate movement of equipment or personnel at the border, though he acknowledged the pressure Russia is exerting on Belarus. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone attacks have forced virtually all major oil refineries in central Russia to halt or scale back production, according to Reuters. The shutdowns affect over 83 million tonnes of capacity per year—about a quarter of Russia's total—and have led to a gasoline export ban by Moscow.
In a separate development, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Zelenskyy on Wednesday amid controversy over Britain's latest sanctions package on Russian oil and gas. The package initially exempts diesel and jet fuel made from Russian oil in other countries, prompting criticism from Ukrainian officials. One former senior Ukrainian figure described Western sanctions as 'too little too late', adding that 'the only way Ukraine can stop the war is to put physical sanctions on Russia and destroy its infrastructure'.
Zelenskyy said he had conveyed Ukraine's concerns to London and expected further discussions this week. Downing Street reaffirmed the UK's 'steadfast support' for Ukraine, insisting that British actions had already reduced Russian oil on the market. Separately, the EU announced it will disburse €3.2 billion to Ukraine next month, the first payment under a loan approved in April.
