Kostyantynivka’s reported capture was presented by Putin on Friday as a major step toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk after weeks of street fighting, though Ukraine earlier said it had repelled 24 assaults near the city and nearby settlements.
More than 50 Ukrainian strikes on Russian and occupied Crimean energy sites since March have cut an estimated one-third of Russia’s refining capacity, reducing gasoline output about 17% to 850,000 barrels a day.
Fuel shortages have spread across Russia, with rationing in many regions, long lines at pumps and periodic halts to gasoline sales in Crimea; Moscow has allowed lower-quality fuel and may import gasoline.
Putin called the shortages temporary, said strikes on oil facilities had no effect at the front, and rejected ceasefire and mutual deep-strike halt proposals while warning Russia could expand a 'security zone' inside Ukraine.
The escalation came after Russia’s 11-hour barrage on Kyiv killed at least 30 people, underscoring a war Putin says will continue until Moscow’s goals are met.
With its army stalled and economy failing, is Putin's threat to seize more territory in Ukraine simply a bluff?
As Russian elites grow anxious over his leadership, is Vladimir Putin's greatest threat now from inside the Kremlin?
The July 2026 Mass Attack on Kyiv: Civilian Toll, International Fallout, and the Next Phase of the Russia-Ukraine War
Overview
On July 2, 2026, Kyiv suffered a massive aerial assault after President Zelenskyy warned of a large-scale Russian attack. Russia launched 74 missiles and 496 drones, with about one-third being ballistic missiles, which Ukraine’s air defenses struggled to intercept. The attack caused at least 30 deaths, 91 injuries, and widespread destruction across the city. This escalation highlights Ukraine’s urgent need for advanced air defense systems and has drawn strong condemnation from Ukrainian leaders and international allies, who stress the importance of faster military aid and increased sanctions against Russia to protect civilians and deter further attacks.