Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky with Maj. Gen. Yevhenii Khmara, Kyiv, June 25, 2026
EA-Ukraine VideoCast: Under Pressure, The Kremlin Considers A Return to Talks
Thursday’s Coverage: More Ukrainian Strikes on Besieged Crimea
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says the anxiety of Russians is rising amid Kyiv’s counter-attacks deep inside the country and Russian-occupied territory.
After meetings with commanders on Thursday, including on Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” with missile and drone strikes, Zelensky cited Ukrainian intelligence that the fuel and logistics crisis in Russian-occupied Crimea is worsening. He noted the cutoff of gasoline sales except for the military and essential services, and the admission of Russian proxy officials of widespread power outages.
Citing “internal Russian documents”, Zelensky said the “level of anxiety” among Russians is more than 50%, higher than during Ukraine’s cross-border incursion into the Kursk region in summer 2024.
66% of Russians consider their financial situation difficult. More than 80% of Russians believe a large-scale economic crisis in Russia is inevitable. These are absolutely clear indicators that reflect the failure of Putin’s war policy.
Another Warning to Belarus Not to Intervene
Zelensky issued another warning to Belarus not to intervene to prop up Russia’s 52-month full-scale invasion.
The President said that, on the Belarus border with northern Ukraine, “The construction of road infrastructure and storage bases for ammunition and fuel and lubricants is nearing completion. These facilities have no purpose other than a military one.”
Belarus knows what steps it must take for peace. The development of border infrastructure for aggression from Belarus must be stopped.
Zelensky said that, after his earlier warning, Minsk had suspended relays assisting Russian targeting of drone strikes on northern Ukraine.
