Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is increasingly penetrating Russia's air-defence network, as both sides stepped up overnight strikes on energy, logistics and port infrastructure.
In an interview released on Saturday (8 August), Zelenskyy said Russia had concentrated three layers of air defence around Moscow, pulling systems from across the country to protect the capital and strategic facilities.
He said St Petersburg was also protected, although less heavily, while arguing that Ukrainian forces were finding ways to overcome Russian defences.
Zelenskyy also claimed that Russian energy infrastructure had suffered losses worth "trillions of roubles" following a recent Ukrainian operation, which he described as highly successful.
He said Ukraine's ability to develop drone technology had become essential to its defence, arguing that Kyiv had been forced to rebuild its military-industrial capabilities after losing much of the infrastructure inherited from the Soviet era.
The comments came as Russia and Ukraine reported a fresh series of overnight attacks.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched six ballistic missiles and 151 drones at Ukraine overnight (8 August). Ukraine's General Staff said its forces struck the Ilsky and Syzran oil refineries in Russia, with fires reported at both facilities.
Russia, meanwhile, said its forces struck fuel storage facilities in the Ukrainian Black Sea ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk, as well as sites near Odesa. The claims have not been independently verified.
Zelenskyy said the Russian attack damaged Odesa's seaport and wounded eight people. He also said Russian strikes on energy facilities in the Odesa region caused significant power outages, although electricity had been restored to 90,000 consumers.
He accused Moscow of targeting infrastructure critical to Ukraine's agricultural exports, saying Russia was thereby putting global food security at risk.
On the Russian side, the overnight (8 August) Ukrainian drone attack on Belgorod killed five people and injured 25 others, according to regional authorities.
Acting Belgorod Governor Alexander Shuvayev said the attack damaged numerous residential and non-residential buildings and sparked fires in two apartment blocks.
Russia's Defence Ministry said more than 150 Ukrainian drones had been destroyed over western Russia, Crimea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
In the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, drone debris damaged two facilities, according to the city's mayor. Three residential buildings were also damaged and one person was injured, local authorities said.
Elsewhere, Russian state media reported that a Ukrainian drone struck a building under construction and a crane in Ufa, in Bashkortostan.
The latest attacks came alongside continued fighting on the ground.
Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had taken control of the villages of Vasyutinske and Toretske in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Reuters could not independently verify the claim.
Russian authorities also reported strikes on oil production facilities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo on Sunday (9 August) called for an end to the conflict, condemning the growing civilian toll in Ukraine and Russia. He urged both sides to respect international humanitarian law and stop attacks on civilian targets
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The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
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