Russia escalates civilian targeting with strikes on Ukrainian gas stations
Russia’s campaign expands beyond military targets to Ukrainian gas stations, with more than 200 stations hit in June–July as drones and airstrikes disrupt civilian life near front lines and around Kyiv. CNN confirmed at least 30 gas-station strikes in that period; Ukrainian officials say the aim is to intimidate civilians, while gas workers and evacuees rely on stations as refuges. Zaporizhzhia alone saw 54 gas-station strikes in 24 days, causing deaths and injuries. Western officials warn of potential escalation from Moscow, and the UN has noted June as Ukraine’s deadliest month for civilians since 2022.
