Zelenskyy: Ukraine will respond to Russian strikes to prevent Russia from prolonging war
President Zelenskyy said Ukraine will continue to respond to Russian attacks in a way that weakens Russia's ability to continue the war, citing fuel shortages in Russia as one consequence.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, commenting on recent Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kherson, Kharkiv, Donetsk Oblast and Sumy Oblast, stated that Ukraine will continue to respond to attacks in a manner that undermines Russia's capacity to prolong the war. In his evening address, Zelenskyy said Russian forces were "hunting" civilian targets and transport in Zaporizhzhia, using FPV drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles. He described the strike on a business in Dnipro as "brutal and absolutely senseless." Zelenskyy remarked: "Russia continues its explicitly terrorist war against Ukraine, against Ukrainians. Of course, we will respond to all of these Russian attacks in a completely just manner. And we are doing this in such a way that, first and foremost, the Russian state's system suffers, along with Russia's ability to prolong the war." He added that the petrol shortage in Russia is one of the consequences of the war and Ukraine's long-range strikes: "We are bringing the reality of the war back to Russia and making it as difficult as possible to continue the occupation of our land." The president thanked Ukrainian troops holding the line, especially in Donetsk Oblast, where the largest number of Russian assaults is taking place. He noted that since the start of the full-scale war, Russia has already postponed its deadline for capturing Donetsk Oblast 15 times. Zelenskyy also announced intensive international engagement in the coming weeks and expressed hope for positive decisions from Ukraine's partners. "June and July must deliver results: for Ukraine, first and foremost, and for our shared commitment to ensuring security. Peace is needed," he said. Background: Russian forces attacked a civilian bus in Zaporizhzhia on the evening of June 29 and also struck the building of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration. It was the second attack on a bus in the city that day. Seven people were injured. Russian troops struck the city of Dnipro on the morning of June 29, damaging the premises of a private company.
