Zelenskyy condemns 'horrific attacks' as Russian missiles strike Ukraine

Key Points:

• Russian missile and drone attacks on Monday killed at least 12 civilians and injured 40 across multiple Ukrainian regions, including Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kharkiv, as part of ongoing efforts to target infrastructure and morale.
• Power outages affected customers in eight Ukrainian regions due to the strikes, with increased electricity demand from hot weather exacerbating the situation, prompting calls from President Zelenskyy for enhanced European anti-ballistic missile defenses.
• Ukraine’s expanding use of long-range drones has disrupted Russian fuel supplies and military logistics, slowing Russia’s advances, though President Putin dismissed concessions and affirmed Russia’s determination to continue its offensive.
• Analysts note a decline in Russia’s battlefield performance in 2026, questioning its ability to achieve military objectives despite Kremlin assertions of confidence and ongoing front-line operations.
• Both sides reported significant drone losses overnight, with Russia claiming to have shot down 209 Ukrainian drones and Ukraine shooting down 82 of 108 Russian drones launched.