European Union extended sanctions on more than 2,600 individuals and entities linked to Moscow hours after six people were killed in Ukraine on Saturday in Russian retaliatory missile and drone strikes.
The EU Council announced that all 27 member states had agreed to renew travel bans and asset freezes until September 2026.
The decision followed the United States' lifting of sanctions on Russian oil exports amid the ongoing war in Iran.
EU Council President Antonio Costa sharply criticised Washington, stating that easing restrictions “increased Russian resources to wage the war of aggression against Ukraine,” with direct knock-on effects on European security.
Russian forces launched intense attacks across Ukraine, targeting energy infrastructure and civilian areas. Regional military administrator MykolaKalashnyk confirmed at least five deaths and 15 injuries in the Kyiv region.
In Zaporizhzhia, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported one fatality and three injuries from guided bomb strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia’s primary focus remained on destroying energy infrastructure outside the capital, though heavy attacks were also reported in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Mykolaiv regions.
He stated that Russia fired 430 kamikaze drones and 68 missiles, most of which were intercepted by Ukrainian air defences.
EU Chief diplomat Kaja Kallas reiterated that the bloc must first agree internally on clear demands from Russia before any direct engagement with President Putin, emphasising “maximalist” conditions.
Posting on X, Zelenskyy warned, “Russia will try to exploit the war in the Middle East to cause even greater destruction here in Europe, in Ukraine.”
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