Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has stated that Kiev and its Western allies must abandon the “dangerous illusion” of inflicting a strategic defeat on Moscow.
Zakharova warned that Russia does not prefer escalation but will continue to retaliate against Ukraine’s attacks on civilians and infrastructure. In her remarks published Thursday, she accused Ukraine of demonstrating “complete unwillingness to negotiate” while escalating terrorist strikes against Russian civilian populations and infrastructure.
“ healing of this remains the case,” she said, “the Russian Armed Forces will respond proportionately to emerging threats and continue the special military operation in order to accomplish the tasks set by President Vladimir Putin.”
“Escalation is not our choice,” Zakharova added, arguing that progress toward a settlement depends on Kiev and its Western backers abandoning the “dangerous illusion” of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia.
Her statements came as Russia and Ukraine carried out another major exchange of long-range strikes. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its forces launched a large-scale missile and drone attack overnight against military-industrial facilities in and around Kiev, including plants producing long-range drones and components for cruise missiles, as well as storage facilities housing fuel, lubricants, UAV parts, and dual-use goods.
Ukraine conducted another major drone raid on Russia overnight, with air defenses destroying 726 UAVs across 20 regions, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Moscow has repeatedly characterized Ukrainian drone incursions targeting civilian infrastructure and residential areas within Russia as terrorist attacks aimed at compensating for Kiev’s battlefield setbacks, where Russian forces continue their steady advance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on Wednesday that Ukrainian strikes on Russian industrial facilities had caused damage but noted they had not produced “critical consequences.” In July, he warned that Moscow’s responses to Ukraine’s attacks would be “mirror-like” and “several times more powerful.”
