Sourced fact
The News
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the continuation of strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow's new strategy of continuous aerial attacks on major Ukrainian cities. Zelensky stated that Ukrainian intelligence agencies discovered documents indicating a "new directive" from Russian President Vladimir Putin allowing for the continuation of strikes on infrastructure, schools, and hospitals, with the aim of forcing citizens to leave major cities.
Meanwhile, the city of Kyiv reported that two major bridges connecting the two halves of the city over the Dnipro River were hit by Russian airstrikes and drone attacks. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko indicated that the northern bridge was severely damaged, leading to its temporary closure, while continued attacks on the southern bridge caused significant traffic jams.
At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry warned diplomats and foreign citizens in Kyiv of the imminent danger, noting that the Russian military would continue to carry out retaliatory strikes. Romanian President Katalin Saraosan expressed concern about the war spilling over into Romania, where Russian drones violated its airspace and launched missiles on its territory.
Klitschko stated in a Telegram post that the northern bridge was severely damaged and temporarily closed, while continued attacks on the southern bridge led to significant traffic jams. The Romanian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador in Bucharest to protest these violations, expressing concern that Romania could be the next target of Russian aggression after Ukraine.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
Analytically, Zelensky's statements point to a dangerous escalation in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Recent Russian attacks on vital infrastructure in Kyiv aim to undermine Ukraine's defensive capabilities and force citizens to leave major cities.
In a broader context, these attacks increase concern among neighboring countries to Ukraine, such as Moldova, which fears it could be a potential target for the next round of Russian attacks. This tension increases pressure on the international community to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
It is worth noting that Russia continues to deny accusations of targeting civilians, but recent attacks raise questions about the validity of these claims.
