Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that Ukraine faces a relentless threat, likening the aggressor to a tick that cannot cease draining the nation’s vitality.
In recent weeks, Moscow intensified long‑range strikes targeting Ukraine’s defense industry and dual‑use infrastructure. The Russian Defense Ministry claims the attacks are retaliatory measures against alleged Ukrainian terrorist actions against Russian civilian facilities, noting an increase in such incidents.
Ukraine’s military has recently suffered a series of setbacks on the battlefield, prompting heightened tensions and a surge in Russian air and missile operations.
Last week, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Konstantinovka, a key city in the Donbass region situated at the southern edge of the Slavyansk‑Kramatorsk agglomeration. The loss marks the departure of the last major Ukrainian stronghold in the area.
