Zelensky: Ukraine will launch a preemptive strike against Russian facilities.

(Kyiv) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will launch a preemptive strike against Russian facilities used for war. Kyiv is escalating its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in an attempt to force Moscow back to the negotiating table.

In a video address on Wednesday evening (June 24), Zelensky said, "I have instructed the intelligence services and the military to take preemptive action against Russian facilities used to expand the war."

A Ukrainian drone strike on Wednesday caused a power outage in the largest city in Russian-administered Crimea , and also damaged facilities in central and southern Russia. Russia's fuel crisis is further exacerbated as Ukrainian forces continue their attacks on refineries and energy assets. Industry sources revealed that the Moscow refinery, which was attacked and damaged, will be shut down for at least six months.

Russian oil production continues to decline due to ongoing attacks on energy facilities. Moscow released rare official data on Wednesday showing that Russia's petroleum product and coking coal production fell 13.5% year-on-year in May, a further widening of the decline compared to previous months. Russia, the world's third-largest oil producer, has stopped publishing most of its oil production and export data since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Zelensky said on Thursday (25th) that Ukrainian forces attacked an oil depot in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia, as well as two oil refineries in the western Ufa region (1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border).

He wrote on social media platform X: "Russians should consider genuine diplomacy, not try to deceive others or stall for time again. This war must end."

Trump, who had previously criticized Zelensky for lacking the necessary winning chips, told reporters on Wednesday that Zelensky had performed admirably in the war against a Russian invasion. “At least he held the line. Many people have died on both sides, but I think he did a pretty good job… You have to admit he was brave, he had good equipment, good personnel, and good soldiers.”

Trump and Zelensky recently met at the G7 summit in France, where leaders agreed to increase pressure on Russia to end the more than four-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump said after the meeting that the United States might soon reinstate sanctions on Russian oil.

German Chancellor Merz said on Wednesday that European allies hope to send a message to Russia at the NATO summit in July that Ukraine remains strong and that Europe will make a strong financial commitment to Kyiv, emphasizing that Europe's support is unwavering.

Source: [Lianhe Zaobao] (https://www.zaobao.com/news/world/story20260625-9265274)