Ukrainian strikes deepen Russia’s deadliest summer of war

Moscow, Aug 3 (EFE).- Russia is enduring what has become the deadliest summer of the war, with Ukrainian strikes reaching deep into its territory and targeting logistics hubs, oil facilities, coastal areas and, increasingly, senior military officials.

The attacks have killed civilians, disrupted tourism and commerce, and heightened pressure on the Kremlin as the conflict increasingly affects everyday life inside Russia.

Russia’s rear areas have become the scene of daily deadly Ukrainian drone strikes while artillery attacks continue to hit border regions.

The deteriorating security situation has also put Russian President Vladimir Putin under pressure after he rejected Kyiv’s proposal for an aerial ceasefire, arguing that Russian air strikes are more effective while accusing Ukraine of resorting to terrorism to spread panic among the Russian population.

The new normal

Ukraine appears to be following through on its pledge to bring the war to Russian territory. Russians now wake up almost every day to reports of attacks across the European part of the country, from the Baltic region to the Urals.

Around 20 people have been killed in Russia since the weekend. The deadliest incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, when an explosion at a restaurant in central Moscow killed five people and injured 21 others.

According to media reports, the apparent target of the attack was Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces Alexandr Chaiko, who was celebrating his 55th birthday.

At the start of the war, Chaiko commanded troops from the Eastern Military District, whose forces were allegedly involved in war crimes in Bucha, north of Kyiv, according to independent outlet Meduza.

Telegram channels reported that senior security officials, Defense Ministry generals, lawmakers and high-ranking government officials attended the event.

High-risk summer holidays

The summer holiday season on the Black and Azov Seas has already been disrupted by the isolation of the annexed Crimean Peninsula and oil spills caused by ships sunk during the war.

Recent attacks have made travel to Russia’s southern coast increasingly risky, further limiting holiday options for Russians, who also face restrictions on travel to many European countries.

At least three people were killed and 13 others injured on Monday after drone debris fell in the Gelendzhik district on the Black Sea coast in Russia’s Krasnodar region.

Hours earlier, Crimea’s Russian-installed leader, Sergei Aksyonov, reported that four civilians had been killed in an overnight Ukrainian attack, although he did not specify the location or the type of weapon used.

Russia’s Amazon a prime target

Logistics centers belonging to Wildberries, often referred to as Russia’s Amazon, have become a primary target of Ukraine’s summer drone campaign.

The latest strike, on Monday, hit one of the company’s warehouses in the Vladimir region, about 150 km east of Moscow. The attack sparked a large fire and injured three workers.

The incident came shortly after Wildberries owner Tatiana Kim publicly defended the company’s safety measures and fire protection systems.

The warehouse was the 18th Wildberries facility reportedly attacked since July 18. The strikes have killed around 10 people and caused multimillion-dollar losses for the company, its clients and local economies.

Border regions remain the areas hardest hit by Ukrainian attacks. Authorities in Bryansk reported eight people injured on Monday.

In Belgorod, officials said four people were killed on Sunday: a 13-year-old girl in a drone strike and three agricultural workers in a missile attack.

Ukraine also struck another oil refinery on Sunday in the Saratov region, about 700 kilometres southeast of Moscow, the third refinery reportedly targeted in less than a week. EFE

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