The war in Europe

Ft: Ukraine is striking Russian energy infrastructure at an unprecedented rate. Kremlin: “Poland should think about its own security if it produces drones for Kyiv”

Since the start of 2026, Russian refineries have been targeted at least 194 times – eleven times more than in the same period last year. Trump-Putin talks. The US President is set to meet Zelensky and the Syrian President at the NATO summit

5 July 2026

Vigili del fuoco spengono un fuoco dopo un raid russo EPA

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Poland “has already set up production facilities on its territory to manufacture drones for Ukraine” and the Russian Ministry of Defence “has already published the addresses of these facilities”, which is why “Warsaw would do well to give some thought to its own security”: this was stated by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in an interview with the Russian programme Vesti, as reported by TASS.

In the same interview, Peskov described the speculation – “now all too widespread in the Western media” – regarding the possibility of a Russian attack on Polish territory as “horror stories”, TASS reports. However, the Kremlin spokesperson insisted on emphasising that there is “nothing good” about the fact that in Poland “there are many companies producing drones, which are then launched against us and attack our military”. “In any case, it makes sense for them to think about it,” he said, referring to the suggestion that Warsaw should “reflect on its own security”.

Ft: Ukraine strikes Russian energy infrastructure at an unprecedented rate

Meanwhile, an analysis of data from the Financial Times reveals that Ukraine is targeting Russian energy infrastructure at an unprecedented rate: Kyiv’s intensified campaign of drone attacks is causing Russia’s worst fuel crisis in decades.

According to data from Rochan Consulting, a Polish analysis group monitoring the conflict, the number of successful Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries reached a record monthly high of 16 in May. Since the start of 2026, Russian refineries have been struck at least 194 times: a figure that represents an elevenfold increase compared with the same period last year. This year, Kyiv and Moscow have launched a record number of drones and missiles, whilst the long-range conflict between the two countries has reached its highest intensity since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. The Russian Ministry of Defence claims that it intercepts the vast majority of incoming Ukrainian attack drones. However, data on attacks and interceptions show that the sharp increase in the frequency and number of projectiles has led to a growing number of hits on strategic energy infrastructure.

The most recent attacks

The latest news reports confirm this analysis by the FT. Ukraine has struck several electricity substations in Crimea, causing a blackout in the Russian-occupied territory, according to the Telegram channel Exilenova Plus, which adds that the substations in Bakhchysarai and Zymyne were hit overnight. According to the pro-Ukrainian channel Crimean Wind, a blackout occurred across the whole of Crimea following attacks on energy infrastructure.

On Sunday, Ukrainian drones attacked Gvardiyske airfield, one of the main Russian military airfields in occupied Crimea, used by Russia for combat missions, logistics and aircraft maintenance. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It is not yet clear what damage was inflicted. In addition, two road bridges in the Donetsk region (one over the Hruzky Yalanchyk River in the Huselnykovo area and the other over the Kalmius River near Staromaryivka) were struck; these were used by the Ukrainians to transport personnel, weapons, ammunition and logistical supplies. Three Russian ammunition depots were also struck in the areas of Makiivka (in the Donetsk region), Dovzhansk (in the Luhansk region) and Preobrazhenka (in the Kherson region). “The Defence Forces will continue to systematically implement measures aimed at halting the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine,” stated the General Staff in Kyiv.

The Russians are not standing idly by. Late on Saturday 4 July, Russian forces launched a series of air raids on Zaporizhzhia. The bombardments damaged a building and there are fears of casualties. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, quoting the head of the Zaporizhzhia regional police department, Ivan Fedorov, who stated that ‘the enemy launched at least five attacks on the city. The bombing damaged critical infrastructure, including a multi-storey building and a car park’.

The Ukrainian president himself, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Sunday that over the past week, ‘Russia has deployed around 2,200 attack drones, over 1,730 guided aerial bombs and 106 missiles of various types against Ukraine, almost half of which were ballistic’. “The regions of Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv and Dnipro, as well as our border communities and those along the front line, are under attack almost every day,” added the leader in Kyiv, also recalling the ‘massive bombardment’ of the capital on the night of 1–2 July, which ‘killed 31 people and injured a further 102, including four children’. In expressing his condolences to the families and loved ones of these victims, Zelensky emphasised the need to “protect human lives from these attacks” and argued that Ukraine has “the necessary capabilities to effectively shoot down over 90 per cent of drones, but, unfortunately, not all ballistic missiles”. “It is precisely ballistic missiles that Moscow is now relying on to continue its war,” added the Ukrainian president.

The Russian military is also targeting Ukraine’s strategic infrastructure. The Russian armed forces have in fact destroyed a gas distribution station in the Ukrainian region of Chernihiv in an attack carried out by a Geran drone. This was stated by the Russian Ministry of Defence. ‘A gas distribution station in the settlement of Gazoprovodnoye, in the Chernihiv region, was destroyed following a drone attack by unmanned aerial vehicle units,’ the ministry said in a statement.

White House: Trump to meet Zelensky and the Syrian president at the NATO summit

US President Donald Trump is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey. This was announced by the White House. Trump is due to arrive at the summit in Ankara on Tuesday, 7 July. His first meeting will be with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the summit’s host. A press conference is also scheduled with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in particular, whilst the bilateral meeting with Zelensky will take place on Wednesday to discuss “how to end the war”. The situation on the battlefield has been “clearly at a standstill for a couple of months”, observed a US official, and neither side is making “significant progress”. On this issue, Trump feels “a real sense of urgency to try to bring an end to a conflict that has lasted for over four years”.

Putin-Trump telephone conversation

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with his US counterpart Donald Trump, the Kremlin announced, adding that the two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara. “The presidents naturally addressed the issue of a solution in Ukraine, taking particular account of Donald Trump’s forthcoming participation in the NATO summit in Turkey on 7 and 8 July,” said Yuri Ushakov, the Kremlin’s foreign policy adviser, as quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency.

Zelenskyy speaks to Macron; Europe should be involved in the diplomatic process

“I have spoken with the President of France. Emmanuel Macron is clearly aware of all the details of the current diplomatic outlook. And it is important that every step we take in the negotiations, in putting pressure on Russia and in working towards peace, is as well-prepared as possible and closely coordinated with our key partners.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote this on X.