Ukraine Launches 40-Day Offensive, European Commission Proposes Refugee Extension

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky approved a 40-day military offensive and stated that Russia must withdraw its forces from Ukraine. In a post on X, he wrote that Ukraine has offered proposals to partners and that Russia must now take a step toward peace.

Zelensky said he made the decision after consulting the head of the Ukrainian security service. Ukrainian forces struck two oil refineries in Ufa and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region. Ukraine also reportedly struck a military facility in Volgograd using long-range Flamingo cruise missiles, according to Russian independent outlet Astra.

Explosions and a fire were reported near the site.

The European Commission proposed extending temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in the European Union until March 2028. The proposal would restrict access for newly arriving men not authorized by Ukrainian authorities to leave the country.

Russian drone strikes killed two people in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region and one person in the Sumy region, regional officials said. Twelve others were injured in the Dnipropetrovsk strike, including two children. Russia said its air defenses intercepted 660 Ukrainian drones during a nighttime attack across multiple regions.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 47 drones were downed near the capital. Russian-installed authorities in Crimea imposed a state of emergency due to fuel shortages and suspended tourist activities and children's summer camps until September.