Ukrainian Forces Report Fatalities from Extensive Russian Air Assaults

Russia launched over 620 drones and long-range missiles during the night, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, as reported by Ukraine on Saturday. The country has called for new sanctions against Moscow to curb its unprecedented assaults.

In recent months, both Kyiv and Moscow have intensified their aerial attacks, while U.S.-backed ceasefire negotiations aimed at halting the more than three-year conflict have stalled.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted, «We witnessed the launch of 26 cruise missiles and 597 attack drones, more than half of which were ‘Shaheds,’” referring to Iranian-manufactured drones.

The Ukrainian air force claimed to have intercepted 319 Shahed drones and 25 missiles but indicated that one missile and approximately 20 drones struck «five sites,» without offering further details.

Zelensky stated that the assaults killed at least two people and injured 20 in Chernivtsi, which is located far from the eastern and southern front lines.

Additionally, six injuries were reported in Lviv, another western city, while in the east, two fatalities were confirmed in the Dnipropetrovsk region and three people were hurt in Kharkiv, according to local officials.

In the northeastern Sumy region, Russia reportedly «dropped two guided aerial bombs on civilian residences,» leading to two deaths, as stated by the local prosecutor’s office.

“The enemy attack resulted in the deaths of a 65-year-old man and his spouse. Fourteen residential properties were either destroyed or damaged,” the statement elaborated.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that it aimed at sites linked to Ukraine’s military-industrial sector in cities like Lviv, Kharkiv, and Lutsk, as well as a military airfield.

On Friday, Ukrainian strikes using drones and artillery resulted in three casualties in Russia.

U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg is expected to arrive in Ukraine on Monday as diplomatic efforts led by Washington struggle to make headway.

On Friday, the Kremlin reiterated its dismissal of a proposed European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that Kyiv’s allies had a plan ready for implementation shortly after a ceasefire.

U.S. President Donald Trump contacted Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday but stated afterward that there had been no advancement towards resolving the conflict.

The Kremlin maintained that Putin would not abandon Russia’s objectives in the war, though it would continue to engage in negotiations.

Moscow claims its goal in Ukraine is to eliminate the «root causes» of the conflict and insists that Kyiv renounce its NATO aspirations.

In Russia’s Belgorod region, adjacent to Ukraine, a drone struck the Belgorod Arena sports center during classes, although regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov confirmed that there were no reported injuries. However, he mentioned that a man died from a separate strike on a residential building in Shebekino.

Zelensky remarked on Thursday that Trump had set definitive timelines for the recommencement of U.S. weapons shipments and intended to deliver a statement regarding Russia on Monday.

The recent announcement by Washington about delaying some weapon deliveries to Ukraine dealt a setback to Kyiv, which heavily relies on Western military assistance.

On Saturday, Zelensky implored his Western allies to provide «more than mere signals» to terminate the war initiated by Russia in February 2022.

«The tempo of Russian aerial assaults necessitates prompt action, which can be achieved immediately through sanctions,» he stated.

Zelensky specifically called for sanctions against those «aiding Russia in drone production and profiting from oil.»

Oil exports play a crucial role in strengthening the Russian economy, notably under the weight of existing Western sanctions.

The sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion, which is the world’s leading producer of fertilizers, did not affect its grain and fertilizer exports.

However, prices surged, creating concerns about food security.

In July 2022, the United Nations brokered a deal with Russia to facilitate the export of food and fertilizer in order to mitigate global price hikes.

Yet on Friday, it announced that the agreement would not be renewed upon its expiration on July 22.

Russia has consistently asserted that the arrangement does little to safeguard it against the repercussions of secondary sanctions.