Sun Aug 31 17:05:44 UTC 2025: ## Summary:

Following a large Russian drone attack that left 60,000 Ukrainians without power, President Zelenskyy announced plans for retaliatory strikes deep inside Russia. Both sides have intensified attacks, with Russia targeting Ukraine’s energy and transport infrastructure, and Ukraine hitting Russian oil refineries and pipelines. The EU continues to support Ukraine, with Ursula von der Leyen visiting Poland to pledge further funding for border security and calling for strong deterrence against Putin. Meanwhile, the Kremlin blames Europe for prolonging the conflict and exaggerates its military gains, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

## News Article:

**Ukraine to Strike Deep into Russia After Devastating Drone Attack**

Kyiv, Ukraine – In a dramatic escalation of the conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced plans to strike targets deep inside Russia. The announcement comes after a significant Russian drone attack crippled Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving 60,000 citizens without electricity.

“We will respond,” Zelenskyy stated on X after a meeting with his top general, Oleksandr Syrskii, confirming the planned strikes.

The tit-for-tat aerial attacks have intensified in recent weeks. Moscow has been focusing on disrupting Ukraine’s energy and transportation systems, while Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil refineries and pipelines in response. Overnight, Russian drones struck four energy facilities in the Odesa region, leaving 29,000 people without power. The port city of Chornomorsk was particularly affected.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues to blame Europe for prolonging the war. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused the EU of hindering potential peace efforts. His comments follow a deadly Russian airstrike in Kyiv that damaged EU diplomatic offices and killed at least 23 people.

European support for Ukraine remains firm. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to Poland, pledged further financial aid to member states bordering Russia and Belarus, emphasizing the need for “strong deterrence” against what she called Putin’s “predatory” behavior.

However, a US think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), suggests the Kremlin is attempting to inflate its military achievements to portray victory as inevitable. The ISW claims that recent statements by Russian army chief General Valery Gerasimov regarding territorial gains in Ukraine were significantly exaggerated.

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