Kyiv initiated one of the most extensive drone assaults on Russia since the commencement of the full-scale conflict, aiming at power stations and an oil refinery during the night, according to officials on Sunday. Meanwhile, Russian forces continued their push towards a crucial town in eastern Ukraine. Russian missile attacks on Kharkiv resulted in over 40 casualties, including five children, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to urge allies to permit Kyiv to deploy Western-supplied missiles more deeply into enemy territory to mitigate the risk of further attacks.
The ongoing conflict, now in its two-and-a-half-year mark, sees Russia intensifying its offensive in eastern Ukraine while attempting to repel Ukrainian forces that unexpectedly breached its western border on August 6. Russia recently launched its most severe air strikes of the war, targeting energy facilities as part of a series of drone and missile attacks that have claimed thousands of lives since the conflict began in February 2022. Ukraine, with its burgeoning domestic drone industry, has increased its attacks on Russian energy, military, and transport infrastructure, and is seeking permission from the United States and other allies to use more potent Western-supplied weapons to inflict significant damage within Russia and hinder Moscow's capabilities to attack Ukraine.
Zelenskiy stated on his Telegram channel that all necessary rescue forces had been mobilized in response to the Kharkiv attack, which involved at least 10 missiles and targeted a shopping mall. He emphasized the need for global support to halt the violence, stating, "This does not require extraordinary forces, but enough courage on the part of the leaders - courage to give Ukraine what it needs to defend itself." In Kharkiv, rescue workers and volunteers transported injured civilians to ambulances after missiles hit a mall and an events hall, with shattered glass and debris scattered across the area.
Earlier, Russian officials claimed that air defense units had neutralized 158 drones launched by Ukraine overnight, with debris causing fires at the Moscow Oil Refinery and the Konakovo Power Station in the neighboring Tver region. Zelenskiy reported that Russia had used 160 missiles, 780 guided aerial bombs, and 400 attack drones against cities and troops across Ukraine last week alone. He urged for "a decision on long-range strikes on missile launch sites from Russia, destruction of Russian military logistics, joint shooting down of missiles and drones." Kyiv's allies remain cautious about how Russian President Vladimir Putin would react if their weapons were used against targets deep within Russian territory.
In eastern Ukraine, where the conflict is most intense, Russian forces advanced towards Pokrovsk, a critical military hub and transport link. Ukraine had anticipated that its recent incursion into Russia's Kursk region would compel Russia to redeploy troops and alleviate pressure on besieged forces in the east, but this strategy has not yet yielded the expected results. Russia's defense ministry announced that its forces had seized two additional settlements in the Donetsk region and were "continuing to advance deep into the enemy defences." Ukrainian officials reported that at least three people were killed and nine injured in Russian shelling of Kurakhove, a town approximately 35 km south of Pokrovsk. Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, described the situation around Russia's main line of attack in eastern Ukraine as "difficult."
