President Zelensky reacts sharply to Russia’s new strike on Kremenchuk: calling it a spit in the face of efforts to stop the war
President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his evening address, once again reaffirmed his unwavering stance in condemning Russia’s latest aggression against Ukraine, which manifested in a large-scale attack on the city of Kremenchuk in Poltava region, targeting the energy infrastructure. According to him, this attack is not just a missile strike but a symbolic spit in the face of all international efforts and diplomatic initiatives currently underway worldwide to cease the war. **What happened in Kremenchuk** Zelensky stated that Russian occupiers used a combination of different weapon types: cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as air-based munitions – Iranian "Shahed" drones, to complicate the work of Ukrainian air defenses. During the evening, Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down a significant portion of these targets. Unfortunately, it was impossible to avoid damage to the city’s energy infrastructure. No civilians were injured, which is one of the few positive aspects of this attack; however, the threat of an energy collapse is already felt. **Warnings and strong words** In his speech, Zelensky emphasized that this strike carries one fully obvious message — it is a cynical spit in the face of attempts to stop the war. "Russia employed various missile types — cruise, ballistic, air-based — and drones — Iranian 'Shaheds' — all directed precisely against our energy infrastructure," the president noted. He underlined that Ukrainian defenders did everything possible to neutralize the threat, including shooting down lethal targets, minimizing human casualties. However, the destruction of energy facilities and their consequences will significantly impact the city’s and region’s vital functions. **What Zelensky hints at** The head of state directly characterized this attack as a destructive signal to the international community. "It is not accidental," he stressed. "It is a signal that Russia cynically spits on all diplomatic efforts, cynically spits on international law. This attack — an act of intimidation, an attempt to test Ukraine’s resilience and strategic patience." He reminded that immediately after Putin’s phone conversation with Trump, when the United States called on Ukraine not to escalate strikes on Russian energy facilities, Russia is simultaneously attacking Ukrainian infrastructure more brutally. "Now, when Putin’s regime finds it crucial to portray itself as a mediator for the Middle East and assist Tehran in its military endeavors — that is precisely when such attacks occur," Zelensky pointed out. **Call for global unity and responsibility** Discussing the inevitable outcome of this war, Zelensky emphasized that it could have ended long ago if the international community had reacted decisively to Russian aggression and not succumbed to Russian propaganda and manipulation. Once again, he called on the global public not to turn a blind eye to the occupier’s crimes, not to cooperate with Russian lies, and not to let them sow chaos and destruction again. **What preceded this situation** Recall that during the night attack on June 15, Russian forces conducted a large-scale combined operation, one of the most powerful recently. The enemy used missile-bombing systems and drones — a series of various missiles, including Iranian "Shahed" UAVs — targeting energy and agricultural infrastructure in the city. Overall, this attack confirms the unstable situation in Ukraine and Russia’s cynical attitude toward international efforts to end the war. Ordinary residents of Kremenchuk and the region felt the consequences of the aggressor’s destructive policy — reduced access to electricity, possible water supply restrictions, and other hardships in daily life. **Conclusions** Zelensky’s statement is among the harshest words in the context of recent events, aimed not only at the domestic audience but also at the global community. Ukraine stands on the verge but continues to fight, demonstrating resilience and readiness to defend its independence. The international community received another warning that Russian aggression will not stop until decisive action is taken. And while the aggressor continues to spit in the face of all efforts to halt the war, Ukraine will persist, despite even the harshest trials.