Death toll rises to 38 from Russia’s deadliest attack on Ukraine this year

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Sunday vowed “an appropriate response” to what he said was Ukraine’s “path of escalation” and targeting of Russia’s civilian economy.

Peskov told Russian state media that Moscow has been launching “fairly systematic” strikes on what he called Kyiv’s military and war-related infrastructure.

Ukraine launched deadly strikes in recent months on the facilities of Russia’s biggest online retailer, Wildberries, saying the company sells dual-use goods that have aided the Kremlin’s war effort. Ukrainian drones have also pounded Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure, prompting an unprecedented fuel crisis in a country that is one of the world’s biggest energy producers.

During the war’s previous winters, Russia systematically battered Ukraine’s power grid, depriving thousands of heat and light in freezing temperatures. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that the coming winter may prove the most challenging since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Ukraine’s new defense chief seeks to close $27 billion funding gap

Ukraine’s new Defense Minister Yevhen Khmara said the ministry has options for closing the $27 billion defense funding gap he inherited from his predecessor, including seeking more contributions from partners.

Khmara made the remarks at his first briefing with reporters since taking the post on Saturday. His appointment followed weeks of protests after Mykhailo Fedorov’s dismissal that sparked a military reset in Kyiv and culminated in a video in which Fedorov called for elections. Khmara’s comments were released for publication on Sunday.

Khmara, a former special forces officer who left military service to become a civilian minister, takes over as Kyiv’s war effort faces mounting financial pressures. He said a priority will be avoiding battlefield shortages while ensuring soldiers are paid and other essential needs are met.