Zelensky Announces Continued Drone Strikes on Russia Amid Economic Contraction

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced continued drone attacks on Russia's oil industry, responding to recent Russian airstrikes on Kiev that killed 24 people. This follows an initial strike on a refinery in Ryazan. Meanwhile, Russia's economy shows signs of strain, with Rosstat reporting the first quarterly GDP decline in three years, despite earlier growth driven by military spending. The central bank's high interest rates to combat inflation are further damaging corporate sectors. In political developments, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico indicated that Slovakia is considering becoming a direct contracting party for Russian oil purchases, leveraging existing EU exemptions. Humanitarian concerns were highlighted by Save the Children, which reported that nearly 800 children have been killed and over 2,700 injured since the war began, with a significant number of casualties occurring in just the first four months of 2026. The organization cited UN data indicating over 15,000 civilian deaths total, emphasizing the severe human cost of escalating attacks on civilian areas.