Zelenskyy praises Europe's 'real leaders' as Trump tensions loom
Ukrainian officials report that Russia is intensifying attacks on civilian infrastructure as Ukraine faces winter energy shortages and restricted access to Starlink technology. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy is seeking continued support from European leaders amid diplomatic tensions with the U.S.
Why it matters
The report underscores the critical impact of military technology access and international political support on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Ukraine is bracing for a difficult winter as restrictions on military applications of Starlink have emboldened Russia to intensify attacks on civilian and energy targets, a senior Ukrainian official told CNBC on Friday.
Serhiy Derkach, Ukraine's first deputy minister for recovery, infrastructure and transport, said Russian forces had stepped up strikes on bridges in Kyiv, threatening to isolate nearly 2 million residents on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, while also targeting railway networks and border crossings in an effort to disrupt transport and sow panic among civilians.
"With U.S. limiting the use of Starlinks on the battlefield, Russia feels that this is their moment to try and inflict even more pain and suffering on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure," Derkach said.
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