EU imposes new Russia sanctions as Moscow intensifies strikes on Ukrainian cities

On August 7, the European Union announced new sanctions against Russia following a surge in attacks on Ukraine, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Kallas revealed that five individuals associated with Russia's military-industrial sector were added to the sanctions list. She emphasized that Russia's military, now on the defensive, was escalating its terror campaign against civilians. Kallas urged continued EU pressure on Russia until the war ceased.

Since the beginning of summer, Russia has escalated its ballistic missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, capitalizing on Ukraine's limited interception capabilities. On August 5, Russian forces executed their third significant assault on Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast within a week, deploying four Zircon missiles, 24 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, and 115 drones.

Ukrainian air defenses were unable to intercept any of the missiles, resulting in 17 casualties, including eight individuals at a railway station near Brovary in Kyiv Oblast. The victims were waiting for a train at the location. Numerous retail chain facilities, including those operated by Nova Poshta, Rozetka, Silpo, Epicentr, and Novus, sustained damage or were destroyed as a consequence of the attack.