Russia launched an unprecedented overnight strike on Ukraine, further escalating tensions at the front, where Ukrainian forces are visibly intensifying their activity. The attack, described by Ukrainian authorities as extremely large-scale, involved the launching of over 800 drones at targets in various parts of the country. For the first time since the start of the conflict, a strike was directed straight at a government building in the heart of the capital, Kyiv.
The attack not only hit critical infrastructure but also led to tragic human casualties. During the bombing, a woman and her two-month-old baby were killed, and dozens of civilians were wounded, once again highlighting the brutal reality of a war that spares no innocents. In the center of the capital, after an administrative building used by the Council of Ministers was hit, a massive fire broke out, its flames illuminating the night sky.
In response to these actions, the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out retaliatory strikes. One of them was aimed at the key Druzhba oil pipeline, which is vital for the energy network. This happened just a day after the visit of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who had made a public appeal to Kyiv not to attack such infrastructure sites. A successful strike was also reported against the Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, demonstrating the Ukrainian army's ability to inflict damage deep within Russian territory.
Meanwhile, the situation in the Russian-occupied regions of Luhansk and Donetsk is worsening. Residents of the temporarily occupied territories report a severe shortage of fuel, with gas stations completely empty and no deliveries. This deficit highlights the challenges faced by the Russian administration in the areas it controls.
The Kremlin regime continues to openly demonstrate its expansionist ambitions. In an escalating statement, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov publicly announced that "Ukraine should become a region of Russia". He described the cessation of the so-called "special military operation" as "pointless" before its goals are achieved. This statement was immediately criticized by international observers as further proof of the aggressive and annexationist intentions of the Russian leadership, which openly violate international law.
Amidst these events, one of the leading figures of Russian state propaganda, Margarita Simonyan, announced that she suffers from a "serious illness" and is scheduled for surgery. The news sparked a wide public reaction, with many commenting that it could be an attempt to divert the attention of Russian society from the real situation at the front and the deepening economic crisis in the country.
On the diplomatic front, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made a new, highly provocative statement, according to which, after the war, Ukraine should be divided into three zones: Russian, demilitarized, and Western. Such ideas cause serious concern among Ukraine's Western allies and are seen as a direct undermining of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, following the Russian narrative.
Across the ocean, US President Donald Trump announced that he is ready to move to a "second stage" of sanctions pressure against Russia. However, this statement was met with reservations in political circles and among observers who question the consistency of his policy towards Moscow. His position continues to create uncertainty among US allies.