A supermarket destroyed by a Russian drone strike on Chernihiv, Ukraine, July 26, 2026
Sunday’s Coverage: Zelensky — Putin Preparing to Expand Russia’s Mobilization
UPDATE 0706 GMT:
Ukraine has struck the port of Rostov-on-Don in southwest Russia.
Russian authorities said a husband and wife were killed and five people, including a teenager, injured. Fires were set at a private enterprise, warehouses, and several homes. Video showed damaged apartments in a multi-story building.
UPDATE 0701 GMT:
Ukraine’s air defenVses downed 123 of 147 drones launched by Russia overnight, but 21 UAVs hit 10 locations.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: Two civilians were murdered, including a 9-year-old girl, and 25 injured by a Russian drone attack on a busy supermarket in northern Ukraine on Sunday afternoon.
The Russians hit and set afire the ATB supermarket in Chernihiv city as well as a service station and a warehouse.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized:
This is deliberate Russian terror with absolutely no military justification.
Stronger sanctions against Russia are needed, along with greater support for Ukraine, more means to protect our skies, and greater capabilities for our warriors.
ATB owns the largest network of retail shops in Ukraine, with more than 1,200 stores and more than one million shoppers each day.
Zelensky: Putin “Preparing for Mobilization”
Zelensky has repeated his assertation that Vladimir Putin, trying to save his 53-month full-scale invasion, is preparing for mass mobilization.
Zelensky told Sky News that Putin is planning for the call-up of 300,000 to 500,000 men after elections to the Duma on September 21, “if we don’t cause him problems with logistics, weapons, petrol, diesel, and if our partners don’t impose total sanctions for his aggression”.
He will have internal questions about it, because his society is – and I saw the polls – against mobilization. A significant percentage is also against the war, but still they support Putin.
He won’t be able to train these people quickly. It means, again, that he will throw poorly trained people on the battlefield. This, in turn, means a lot of losses.
