Ukraine's energy system fragmented, refineries destroyed — former Zelensky spokesperson

Ukraine crisisUkraine's energy system fragmented, refineries destroyed — former Zelensky spokesperson According to Yulia Mendel, 37 gas stations of the Naftogaz group were targetedMOSCOW, August 3. /TASS/. Ukraine's energy system is fragmented, and its oil refineries are all but destroyed, according to Yulia Mendel, a former spokesperson for President Vladimir Zelensky. "Our energy system is fragmented, our oil refineries are gone, and the horrors on the front lines continue," she wrote on social media. Mendel said that 37 gas stations of the Naftogaz group were targeted. "For ordinary Ukrainians, this means longer queues, higher fuel prices, and growing difficulty finding working gas stations, as the country's energy infrastructure continues to be systematically destroyed," she said. Earlier, TASS estimated that about 200 gas stations had been destroyed in Ukraine since the beginning of May 2026. In early July, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov (2010-2014) said Ukraine had begun experiencing a fuel crisis. TagsUkraine crisisNatural DisastersFACTBOX: Danube River's low water level and effect on nuke plants in Hungary, RomaniaDue to a severe drought, the Danube's water level has dropped to a 30-year low of 1,700 cubic meters per secondRead moreMercenaries from six countries fighting alongside Ukraine in Kharkov Region — authoritiesAccording to the official, some of the mercenaries, primarily those from NATO countries, pose themselves as motivated and experienced fightersRead moreIran not conducting any talks US, continuing dialogue only with Oman — diplomatAccording to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, negotiations are underway to reach an agreement on a route that will ensure safe navigation through the Strait of HormuzRead moreIsraeli court bans use of crocodiles to secure prisons with terroristsAccording to a report by The Jerusalem Post, the court issued this ruling based on a motion from the animal rights organization Let the Animals LiveRead moreOver 35 minors killed, some 300 wounded in Ukraine’s attacks in 2026 — diplomat"Deliberate strikes against children, their murder, and the wounding of children constitute an appalling war crime committed by Ukrainian monsters," Russian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador at Large Rodion Miroshnik saidRead moreWest waging hybrid campaign against Russia-Kazakhstan ties — senior diplomatAccording to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, one element of this unfriendly propaganda is the claim that "the sovereign and independent development of the former Soviet states is possible only through so-called liberation from dependence on Russia"Read moreTrump cancels strike on Iran after compromise proposal on Hormuz Strait operation — TVAccording to TV Channel 12, the compromise proposal implies that vessels entering the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz will stay in Iran’s territorial waters while vessels exiting the waterway will pass through Oman’s territorial watersRead moreLiberation of Svetloye creates springboard for offensive on Dobropolye — Russian soldierAccording to the Russian Defense Ministry, the settlement of Svetloye in the Donetsk People’s Republic was liberated on July 29Read moreUS, Iran to focus on Strait of Hormuz, lifting blockade during talks — mediaAccording to the news agency, the talks will also address ending all strikes across the regionRead morePutin arrives in KrasnoyarskThe head of state arrived at the campus of the Siberian Federal University to participate in the closing ceremony of the All-Russian competition "Big Break"Read moreExplosion at Moscow cafe kills three people, injures 15 — Interior MinistryAn explosion occurred near a summer cafe at about 08:10 p.m.Read moreKing of Spain outraged at events in Ceuta — EFEThe monarch said the state must ensure the safety of autonomous cities and prevent the recurrence of such eventsRead moreBurevestnik’s range outstrips all other known missile systems — Putin"It has high precision and hits its targets in designated time," Russian leader addedRead moreRussia's Transport, Defense Ministries boost vessel protection in Azov-Black Sea basinThe ministry is working to sustain cargo logistics in the Azov-Black Sea basin amid drone attacksRead moreMoscow mayor conveys condolences to families of persons killed in restaurant blastThe perpetrators of this crime will necessarily be found and will face punishment they deserve, Sergey Sobyanin stressedRead moreFSB foils terrorist attack near prosecutor's office in PyatigorskThe attack was planned by a 2001-born citizen of a Central Asian country and a follower of an international terrorist organization banned in RussiaRead moreMoscow never rejected constructive ideas on Ukrainian settlement — diplomatMikhail Galuzin says the Ukrainian side interrupted the negotiations and even cancelled them on its behalfRead moreUS military seeks ‘unconventional’ options to punish Iran — TVAccording to the report, the request highlights the limited and potentially politically unpalatable options available to the Washington administration in dealing with IranRead moreImplementation of agreement with Lebanon to depend on Hezbollah’s disarmament"Israel’s security is not a bargaining chip," adviser in the Israeli prime minister’s office Dmitri Gendelman said.Read moreRussian forces hit over 80 vessels involved in cargo deliveries for Ukrainian army in JulyAmong them were two dry cargo ships, a sea ferry transporting military cargo and a screening boat, the Russian Defense Ministry saidRead moreBrent falls below $82 per barrel, first time since July 13By 10:10 p.m. GMT, August 2, Brent had pared losses to trade at $82.89 a barrelRead moreSevmash Shipyard to deliver two vessels to Russian Navy by year end — CEOMikhail Budnichenko added that the Project 885M nuclear-powered submarine Perm will complete all stages of tests this yearRead moreFirst serial-produced, fully import-substituted MC-21 aircraft completes its maiden flightThe aircraft was piloted by a crew of experienced test pilotsRead moreKiev sent forcibly mobilized soldiers for assaults in Kharkov Region — expertAccording to Andrey Marochko, over the past week, Ukrainian troops attempted to stabilize the front line and conducted reconnaissance-in-force operations, using "low-skilled personnel"Read moreSaudi Arabia warns US against further escalating Iran war — agencySaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman noted that further escalation could severely damage the global economy while failing to achieve its intended objectivesRead moreProfessor Jeffrey Sachs is right: Ukraine risks losing Odessa, says Duma memberAccording to Alexey Chepa, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Ukraine is losing ground every dayRead moreUkrainian attack on Crimea kills three civilians, leaves two others injuredCrimea's head Sergey Aksyonov extended his condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recoveryRead moreUS still ready for strikes on Iran on scale "not seen since World War II" — Pentagon chiefEarlier, President Donald Trump said that the United States and Iran would begin negotiations on a peace agreement on August 3Read moreUkrainian army carries out over 1,600 attacks on Russia’s Belgorod Region in past weekFourteen local residents were killed and over 100 were injuredRead moreDeath toll from Ukrainian attack on Crimea rises further to fourGovernor Sergey Aksyonov offered his condolences to the family and friends of the deceasedRead morePutin congratulates Russian paratroopers on Airborne Force DayRussian President said he was confident that the Airborne Force personnel would accomplish the assigned objectives with honor and make considerable contribution to ensuring Russia’s defense capabilityRead moreKiev troops bombard Donetsk People’s Republic 14 times over past dayTwo civilians were reported to sustain woundsRead moreTwo firefighting helicopters collide west of Athens, two die — TVAccording to the television channel, one of the helicopters caught fire and crashed, while the other one made an emergency landingRead moreUS still has resources to fuel Ukraine conflict — Russian diplomatRodion Miroshnik also pointed out that, at present, keeping the conflict in Ukraine going benefits WashingtonRead more35 vessels redirected by US military since resumption of blockade of Iran — CENTCOMDisabled 2, and boarded 2, it wrote on XRead moreUkraine loses 9,600 troops, mercenaries in special military op zone in past week — expertAccording to Andrey Marochko, Russia's Battlegroup Center inflicted the heaviest manpower losses on the enemyRead moreEuropean leaders rule out possibility of Kiev joining EU in future — Russian intel agencyThe intelligence service stated that European bureaucrats were intent on continuing to mislead the Ukrainian people, seeking to use them as ‘cannon fodder’ in the confrontation with RussiaRead morePress review: US-Iran strike lull short-lived and Telegram's Durov faces terrorism chargesTop stories from the Russian press on Thursday, July 30thRead moreUS sees profits as key foreign policy goal, Russian diplomat saysAccording to Rodion Miroshnik, the United States is doing everything possible to preserve and strengthen its hegemonyRead moreAnother batch of Russian humanitarian aid arrives in IranТhe cargoes have been handed over to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, a Dagestan government representative to the Russian trade mission in Iran Andrey Tanayev saidRead moreTeenage girl dies, two more children wounded after Ukraine drone attack in Belgorod RegionTwo more girls, of seven and nine years of age, received shrapnel wounds and were taken to a hospital, the region’s acting governor, Alexander Shuvayev saidRead moreRussian forces eliminate Ukrainian troops, ground robots near Krasny Liman — ministryCombat footage shows direct hits by FPV drones, destroying several unmanned ground vehicles and taking out Ukrainian troops," the Russian Defense Ministry saidRead moreRussia develops prototype vaccine for non-small cell lung cancer — scientistAccording to Alexander Gintsburg, this is the most common type of cancer as it mainly affects smokersRead moreUkraine to lose its Western territories sooner or later — PutinIt may not happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, It may take one year, two years, 10 years or 15 years, Russian President saidRead moreSt. Petersburg Gas Forum postponed until April 2027 — GazpromThe decision was made due to a large number of other major related events scheduled for this OctoberRead moreSeven OPEC+ nations to increase daily oil production in September by 188,000 barrelsAs follows from the OPEC table, Russia’s quota will be increased by 62,000 barrels a dayRead moreIN BRIEF: SVR statements on EU plans for Ukrainian soil, Kiev’s EU membership prospectsThe Russian Foreign Intelligence Service stressed that European bureaucrats intend to mislead the Ukrainian people and use them as "cannon fodder" in their confrontation with RussiaRead moreSpanish intelligence believes Rabat failed to stop migrant flow to Ceuta — newspaperEL Pais noted that the crisis in Ceuta caught Madrid off guard, as the government was focused on fighting forest fires at the timeRead morePress review: Putin-Xi-Trump meeting rumors swirl while Kiev plays Poland against RussiaTop stories from the Russian press on Friday, July 31stRead moreUkrainian drone hits site several meters away from reactor unit at Zaporozhye nuke plantSuch actions by the Ukrainian side create direct risks for the nuclear facility, Head of Russia’s Rosatom civil nuclear power corporation Alexey Likhachev saidRead moreRussia becomes one of the most promising markets for Indian exports — FIEOChanging supply chains, evolving geopolitical dynamics and Russia’s efforts to diversify its sourcing have created fresh opportunities for Indian businesses, FIEO President Subhash Chander Ralhan notedRead moreIran denies reaching compromise deal with US on opening Strait of HormuzThere is no agreement on resuming shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the reports spread on this score are false, the news agency Fars saidRead moreRussia warns Ireland of maritime piracy attempts’ possible consequences — ambassadorIreland’s recently adopted laws stipulate that the army may board vessels under the pretext of combating violations of the anti-Russian sanctions’ regimeRead moreWoman who brought explosive to Moscow eatery could have been unaware of parcel’s contentsAll the threats cannot be neutralized, Alpha counter-terror group veteran Sergey Goncharov toldRead moreGeorgia optimistic about restoring strategic partnership with US — PMRelations between Tbilisi and Washington became strained in 2024 after Georgia passed a law on foreign agentsRead moreUS, Iran to begin negotiations on August 3 — President TrumpThe US leader added that the allies "think there’s a deal" Read moreRussian troops strike Ukrainian army’s transport, energy sites over past day — top brassThe Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,415 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hoursRead moreRussia seeks sustainable peace in Ukraine conflict — Kremlin spokesmanAccording to Dmitry Peskov, The Ukraine process is currently on hold Read moreIran says Oman agreement alone not enough to reopen Strait of HormuzIranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed not because of disagreements between Tehran and Muscat, but because of US and Israeli aggression against IranRead moreUkraine loses about 1,295 troops in special military operation zone in past dayUnits of Russia's Battlegroup East inflicted the heaviest losses on the enemy in their area of responsibilityRead morePress review: US delays Iran action as Washington returns to Moscow-Kiev talksTop stories from the Russian press on Monday, August 3rdRead moreRussia would welcome Kazakhstan’s accession to GFCN network — presidential administrationAccording to the statement, Russian and Kazakh media are ideologically close and largely perform common tasksRead moreRussian forces continue striking port infrastructure, ships used to supply Ukrainian armyRussian forces continued striking Ukrainian transport infrastructure, the Russian defense ministry saidRead moreZelensky convenes security council to discuss winter preparednessAccording to TASS calculations, by the middle of the year, the country had only managed to accumulate about 7 billion cubic meters of gasRead moreAt least 14 die, 20 wounded in terror attack in northwestern PakistanAccording to the local police chief, a suicide bomber activated an explosive device after police officers tried to search him at the entrance to the police station nearRead moreUS, Europe both pursue egoistic intentions in bilateral relations — Russian diplomatRodion Miroshnik added that the US and Europe are trying to "deceive European taxpayers and distribute their funds to lobby the interests of particular structures"Read moreRussian Transport Ministry sets up HQ to coordinate transportation in Azov-Black Sea basinThe headquarters is working to establish alternative logistics routes and to redirect cargo flows to other modes of transport, the ministry saidRead moreAt least 19 Palestinians killed in Gaza during day as result of Israel’s operationsSources in Gaza hospitals told Al Jazeera that 12 people were killed in the city of Gaza in the north of the enclaveRead moreIN BRIEF: Three dead, 15 injured: what we know about explosion at cafe in center of MoscowThe police and Russia’s National Guard Rosgvardiya restricted access near the residential high-rise on Kudrinskaya Square, where the blast took placeRead moreRussia’s first newly-built Tu-160M ‘White Swan’ strategic bomber performs debut flightRussia’s newly-built Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying bomber has 80% of its equipment upgradedRead moreChina calls on US to stop trying spoil China’s relations with Russia over UkraineThe United States is directly responsible for the hostilities in Ukraine, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian also notedRead moreUS after Europe’s money, technologies, intellect — Russian diplomatAccording to Rodion Miroshnik, the Europeans want to use US military and technological capabilities to continue the conflict in Ukraine, and are also interested in energy resourcesRead moreRussian Forces intercept rare Portuguese Tekever AR3 recon droneThe UAV has been transferred to a research institute, where specialists will study its design, technical specifications, and engineering solutionsRead moreOver 1,000 migrants remaining near center for migrants in Ceuta — agencyAccording to the EFE agency, the center is overcrowdedRead moreBoard of Peace seeks de-escalation in Gaza following latest series of strikes — envoyNickolay Mladenov emphasized that both sides, Israel and the radical Palestinian movement Hamas, are responsible for fulfilling the terms of the peace agreementRead moreUS-Iranian conflict likely to be over by year end — Russian senatorGrigory Karasin added that Middle Eastern countries are not comfortable living in a confrontationRead moreKazakhstan may face wave of fake reports during elections — TASS director generalAndrey Kondrashov noted that TASS and the Dialogue autonomous non-profit organization were among the founders of the Global Fact-Checking NetworkRead moreCeuta authorities report 88 deaths amid mass influx of migrants — news agencyOn August 2, the Spanish government’s press office reported 72 fatalities, and the Moroccan authorities reported 11 deathsRead moreWestern arms supplies to Kiev only push peace further away — Italian MPDanilo Della Valle said the conflict is becoming more and more dangerous with each passing dayRead moreRussian forces strike Kiev facilities producing missile, drone components — top brassThe Russian Armed Forces struck a facility in Kiev used for the assembly and storage of interceptor drones, the Defense Ministry reportedRead moreRussian drone operators hit gas station used by Ukrainian army in KramatorskThe station was used in the interests of the Ukrainian army, the Russian defense ministry saidRead moreKim reports billions in losses for foreign entrepreneurs due to attacks on WildberriesTerrorist attacks on Wildberries warehouses constitute force majeure events, the founder of Wildberries and head of RWB saidRead moreWhat we know about drone attack on Gelendzhik, resulting in six deathsEmergency and special services are working at the crash sitesRead moreRussia at important point of completing special op — MedvedevThe Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman addressed volunteers of the United Russia Young Guard and the Volunteer Company departing to the special military operation zoneRead moreArmenian president signs decree on appointing Pashinyan as republic’s PMAt the parliamentary elections held in Armenia on June 7, the ruling Civil Contract party led by Nikol Pashinyan gained 49.75% of the electors’ votesRead moreRussian strike drones preparing ground for offensive on Druzhkovka in DPR — expertRussian UAV operators are also conducting deep reconnaissance in the Dnepropetrovsk RegionRead moreWorkers’ Party nominates Lula da Silva candidate for Brazilian presidentIncumbent Vice President Geraldo Alckmin will run alongside the Brazilian leader for the vice presidency, the party’s convention decidedRead moreHungarian PM says Paks NPP to continue operating until Tuesday — news agencyAccording to the earler reports, the Paks NPP is operating at just over 10% of its full capacityRead moreIran-Oman talks on Strait of Hormuz nearing completion — top Iranian diplomatIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted progress in the negotiationsRead moreCasualties, fire at Wildberries facility: aftermath of drone attacks on Russian regionsOn-duty air defense systems downed a total of 131 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over 11 Russian regionsRead morePaks NPP in Hungary to be shut down for first time in 44 years — MagyarHungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar noted that the second-to-last power unit at the Paks NPP will be shut down on August 2 due to a further drop in the Danube's water levelRead moreUS to assess prospects for resuming Ukraine talks in coming weeks — RubioUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that Washington intends to take a number of steps in the coming weeks to assess the prospects for resuming peace talksRead moreRussian forces jit Ukraine’s Pelican radar system in Dnepropetrovsk RegionPelican radar system was hit with the use of a Geran drone, the Russian defense ministry saidRead moreDrone strike causes fire at logistics facility in Russia’s Vladimir RegionAccording to preliminary information, there were no casualtiesRead moreSeventeen injured in Ukrainian drone attack on Gelendzhik hospitalizedFour of the injured, among them two children, are in serious conditionRead moreIN BRIEF: What we know about Ceuta migration crisis and causes behind itSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Ceuta as he characterized the influx of migrants as "an attack, a violation of the territorial integrity" of the kingdomRead moreTop Saudi, Iranian diplomats discuss de-escalation efforts in regionPrince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud stressed that Riyadh is committed to continuing to play its regional role in ensuring security and stabilityRead moreDonbass Dome system thwarts nearly 140 Ukrainian drone attacks in past weekUkrainian troops tried to attack a power substation in Donetsk with the use of a FP-2 fixed-wing drone equipped, the Federal Security Service’s department for the Donetsk People’s Republic saidRead moreUkrainian forces targeting Russian evacuation vehicles near Kharkov — soldierAccording to the Russian serviceman, employees of the Emergencies Ministry and other special services are regularly targeted by Ukrainian dronesRead moreRussian Maritime Board chief holds talks on maritime logistics cooperation in AlgeriaThe sides also discussed ensuring security of navigation in the MediterraneanRead moreUS discussing with Ukraine potential transfer of Patriot production technologies — MPUS President Donald Trump said on July 31 that the United States should be very careful with granting licenses to other countries to manufacture its weaponsRead more