▲ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with the media at the NATO summit.
As the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit kicked off on July 7 (local time), Ukraine intensified its pressure on Russia by launching a massive drone strike on the capital, Moscow, and targeting supply routes in the Crimean Peninsula.
According to foreign media reports, including AFP, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated on social media that "more than 430 drones flew toward the Moscow region from the previous evening through this morning."
He added, "Most were neutralized at long range, and 36 of them approached Moscow but were shot down."
According to Russian regional authorities, one civilian was killed in the Belgorod region following a Ukrainian missile attack.
"Shadow fleet" vessels transporting fuel to the Crimean Peninsula were also targeted for the second consecutive day.
Ukrainian drone units struck 10 ships, including vessels subject to sanctions, in the Sea of Azov on this day.
The Ukrainian military also attacked two shadow fleet vessels in the same waters the previous day, which were attempting to evade international sanctions.
The Sea of Azov serves as a critical supply route connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russian-occupied territories in southern Ukraine.
It is reported that energy supplies are facing disruptions in the Crimean Peninsula, which is under effective Russian control.
Two factories related to the military-industrial complex in Russia's Bryansk region were also attacked by Ukraine.
Ukraine has recently been intensifying its attacks targeting Russian energy facilities and supply lines.
The day before, the Omsk Oil Refinery, Russia's largest oil refinery located 2,700 km from Ukraine, was struck.
It was assessed as the longest-range attack since the outbreak of the war.
Due to Ukraine's persistent attacks, Russia has reportedly acknowledged a fuel shortage and begun importing gasoline from India and Kazakhstan.
Russia is the world's second-largest crude oil exporter.
Some foreign media and experts evaluate the recent battlefield situation as shifting in Ukraine's favor.
As Ukraine continues to perform well with its long-range drones, discussions on military aid from allies are also gaining momentum.
The easing of financial difficulties through European Union (EU) loan support, which had been delayed due to opposition from former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, is also considered a positive factor.
The perspective of U.S. President Donald Trump, which does not differ significantly from this positive assessment, is also encouraging for Ukraine.
President Trump said the previous day, "He (Russian President Vladimir Putin) seems to be feeling the pressure. He wants to end this, and Ukraine wants to end it too," suggesting that the end of the war is approaching.
This is why there are observations that this NATO summit could serve as a stepping stone to strengthen the position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Bloomberg analyzed on this day, "President Zelenskyy will attend the NATO summit this year looking different than in the past," adding, "He is more confident, and he has reason to be."
However, while the current situation is indeed trending in Ukraine's favor, some analysts suggest it is too early to conclude that Ukraine has secured a definitive advantage.
Russia continues to pressure the front lines in the eastern Donetsk region and is concentrating its firepower on civilian facilities in the rear.
In particular, the continuous civilian casualties remain a significant burden for Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian authorities, at least 28 civilians were killed in the capital, Kyiv, following a Russian attack that utilized 68 missiles and 351 attack drones the previous day.
This comes just five days after a large-scale attack on the night of July 1, which killed 31 people in Kyiv.
President Zelenskyy urged for air defense support, stating, "We could not stop the Russian ballistic missiles because the supply of interceptor missiles was insufficient. The U.S. and Europe have the sufficient capability to stop this terror."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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