Moscow, 05 August (H.S.): Russia's Foreign Ministry Special Envoy Rodion Miroshnik has claimed that Ukraine has significantly intensified its attacks following the appointment of Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as the country's new military chief. According to Miroshnik, the escalation has resulted in nearly 950 civilian casualties since July 21, including more than 100 deaths.
He stated that Major General Drapatyi assumed command on July 21, after which Ukrainian strikes increased considerably. Since then, nearly 950 civilians have been affected. More than 100 people have been killed, and at least 45 children have been among the victims, including 15 who lost their lives, he said. Miroshnik further alleged that under Drapatyi's revised strategy, attacks targeting civilian buses, private vehicles, agricultural machinery, and ambulances have intensified.
According to reports by TASS and The Moscow Times, Miroshnik said that with Drapatyi taking charge, what he described as cowardly attacks had increased. He claimed that the new commander had not altered the military approach adopted by his predecessor, Oleksandr Syrskyi, and former chief Mykhailo Fedorov, but had instead expanded the use of Western military assistance and large numbers of attack drones. He alleged that this had increased pressure on Russia by strengthening Kyiv's military capabilities.
Reports said that Ukraine carried out overnight drone attacks across Russia on Monday, targeting several warehouses owned by private companies. At least five people were reportedly killed in the strikes.
Acting regional governor Vitaly Korolyov confirmed the incident, stating that five people were killed and ten others injured after a drone strike hit a warehouse in the city of Chekhov.
Meanwhile, speaking at the Third Russia-Kazakhstan Media Forum in St. Petersburg, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin accused the Ukrainian government of attempting to escalate tensions by attacking Russia's economic infrastructure.
Separately, Russian military expert Andrey Marochko said in Luhansk that Russian forces had breached Ukrainian defensive positions near Novaya Sech in the Sumy region and had begun advancing toward the settlement of Marino. He said Russian troops continued to make gains in the Sumy direction, particularly in the Volchansk sector.
Marochko stated that Russian forces first broke through Ukrainian defenses southeast of Novaya Sech and are now increasing pressure on Marino, located southeast of Khrapovshchyna. Russia's Ministry of Defence had announced on July 29 that it had captured Novaya Sech from Ukrainian control.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
