Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asserted that Ukraine's recent long-range strikes have led to a significant reduction in Russia's gasoline supplies, estimating a decrease of 20%.
According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy shared this information during a conversation with journalists, with his remarks being disseminated by local media, including state news agency Ukrinform. He suggested that the reduction in Russia's fuel supplies is evident from the increased imports the country is making from Belarus and China. Zelenskyy also confirmed the deployment of domestically produced Neptune and Flamingo cruise missiles against Russian targets over the past week, though he did not specify the quantity used.
The ongoing conflict has seen both Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of targeting energy infrastructures, as winter approaches and diplomatic resolutions remain elusive. Ukraine's General Staff reported on Telegram about striking a gas processing plant and an oil pumping station in Russia's southern Volgograd region, resulting in explosions and fires. Volgograd Governor Andrey Bocharov acknowledged fires at energy facilities but withheld further details. Concurrently, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 19 Ukrainian drones overnight, with nine specifically over the Volgograd region.
Further developments include Zelenskyy's comments on Ukraine's counteroffensive efforts near Dobropillia in the eastern Donetsk region, which he claims disrupted Russia's summer offensive and its goal to dominate the Donbas region by November. He stated that Russia and the US lack a unified vision to end the conflict, with Washington recognizing Russian misrepresentations.
Zelenskyy also touched on the potential supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, noting that former US President Donald Trump did not dismiss this possibility during their meeting at the UN General Assembly. He confirmed ongoing negotiations on prisoner exchanges with Russia but accused Moscow of planning provocations to pressure Kyiv.
The Ukrainian president emphasized that achieving a ceasefire is crucial for peace negotiations, though he acknowledged the complexity of ending the war. He suggested that if Trump facilitates a ceasefire, he deserves a Nobel Prize nomination from Ukraine.