Ukraine is reportedly getting ready for a “significant air assault” featuring Russian hypersonic missiles within the next day, cautioned President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday.
Zelenskiy stated: “There are indications that preparations for a coordinated attack on Ukrainian territory are underway, including in Kiev.” This message was shared on X around 6:45 PM local time.
“Starting tonight, it’s crucial to take air raid warnings seriously,” he urged.
In a separate safety alert, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv reiterated its advice to American citizens to be prepared to evacuate immediately if air alerts occur.
This warning followed a directive from Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who had ordered the military to consider retaliatory actions after a Ukrainian drone allegedly struck a dormitory in the Luhansk region, which is under Russian control.
Russian state media claimed that the attack resulted in the deaths of 18 students, with many others injured, primarily young women, and reports indicated that three individuals were still trapped beneath rubble.
Ukraine’s military denied involvement in the incident, asserting that their operations were aimed at a drone command unit in the vicinity.
Among the potential retaliatory options is the Oleshnik missile—an advanced hypersonic weapon that travels at speeds exceeding ten times that of sound. Putin had previously claimed it was impossible to intercept.
To date, the Oleshnik has only been deployed twice, and European leaders have condemned these actions as “escalatory and unacceptable.”
“Russia’s recklessness seems boundless, so please take precautions. Find shelter,” Zelenskiy conveyed via Twitter.
“This conflict must cease. What we need is peace, not missiles to fulfill the twisted ambitions of a single individual.”
In the meantime, a series of Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight resulted in at least five fatalities and 62 injuries, according to local officials.
Amidst these events, in an effort to undermine the Kremlin’s oil revenue, Ukraine targeted the Sheskhalis oil terminal—one of the largest in the Black Sea—igniting an overnight fire.
Kiev also threatened to crash a crude tanker into an oil depot in Novorossiysk, which is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” potentially igniting a blaze that could disrupt Russia’s ability to export up to 1 million barrels of oil daily.
Discussions around peace processes have hit a snag, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledging on Friday that U.S.-mediated conversations between Ukraine and Russia have been “unsuccessful” and reached a standstill.
“Unfortunately, these peace talks have yielded no substantial outcomes,” Rubio told reporters.
“There’s been a growing sense in recent months that little progress is evident…I remain hopeful that this situation will improve, as wars can only conclude through negotiation.”
When asked if Europe should take on mediator roles, he remarked, “If someone else wishes to manage it, they should go ahead.”
with post wire
