>>>514777756 (cont'd)
Russia & the Warfront (2/2)
>>> Russian artillery struck civilians in Kostiantynivka, causing multiple deaths and injuries; separate Russian attacks on railway infrastructure caused nationwide delays in Ukraine of up to seven hours.
>>> Russia expanded airfields in Donetsk and Kerch to stage additional Shahed launches and introduced a new camera-equipped “Ъ”-series Shahed; meanwhile, Ukrainian deep strikes produced rail and fuel disruptions inside Russia.
>>> The Black Sea posture shifted as Russia prepared a Soviet-era warship for renewed sorties, attempting to offset cumulative losses to the Black Sea Fleet since 2022.
>>> After U.S. commentary alleging a Russia–China–North Korea “plot,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov denied any conspiracy, even as Putin met Kim Jong Un in China and publicly thanked DPRK troops fighting against Ukraine.
>>> Putin maintained that Russia “does not desire to attack anyone,” justified strikes on Ukrainian energy as retaliation, and urged Eastern European countries to cut gas and oil supplies to Ukraine—statements that underscore the weaponization of energy.