Zelensky Warns of New Massive Russian Attack and Issues Warning to Belarus
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russia is preparing a new massive strike and urged citizens to pay close attention to air raid alerts. He also warned Belarus about its involvement in the war.
In his evening address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of a potential new massive Russian attack. He called on residents to be especially vigilant in the coming hours and to follow air raid alerts closely, stating that Russia had prepared a new strike.
The warning came just days after Ukraine carried out two major drone attacks on Moscow. In response, Russian officials promised retaliation, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that Moscow was preparing strikes on facilities that affect the combat capability of the Ukrainian armed forces.
The latest Ukrainian attack targeted a Moscow oil refinery, exacerbating fuel shortages in several Russian regions. Smoke was visible over the capital for an extended period. Zelensky emphasized that the attacks on Moscow were retaliation for Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, including the recent attack on Kyiv. This spring, Russia intensified its aerial attacks, and in June, two massive missile strikes caused significant damage to the capital.
Among the affected sites was the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important Orthodox monastic complexes in Ukraine. During the address, an air raid alert had already been issued in Kyiv, heightening fears of a potential attack.
Zelensky also issued a warning to Belarus, claiming that Ukraine has information about equipment deployed near the border that is being used to support Russian drone attacks. He said this equipment is used for strikes on Zhytomyr, Rivne, and Volyn regions. The president stressed that Minsk still has time to dismantle it, adding that Ukraine knows every factory in Belarus working in Russia's interests. The day before, he had given Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko an ultimatum, giving him one week to remove the equipment, or Ukraine would be ready to act on its own.
