Ukraine ‘Blocks Off Russia’s South’ as Deep Strikes Expand

Ukraine has “succeeded in blocking off Russia’s south” and is expanding its operations in response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and cities, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday.

Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and other facilities, alongside military operations in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, are aimed at limiting Moscow’s capacity to continue the war.

“The long-range sanctions plan is being implemented, and there are more and more of our mid-range strikes as well,” Zelensky said in his evening address on Aug. 14.

Kyiv describes the campaign as “long-range sanctions” – combining deep military strikes with economic and legal pressure on the infrastructure and networks sustaining Russia’s war.

On Friday, Zelensky signed sanctions targeting individuals and companies involved in the illegal export of Ukrainian grain from Russian-occupied territories, as well as vessels used in those operations.

Ukraine has also prepared new sanctions packages targeting Russia’s military-industrial sector, financial networks and intermediaries helping Moscow sustain its war.

Zelensky called for Ukraine’s measures to be replicated by major international jurisdictions, arguing that Russian companies, individuals and those assisting them should face broader restrictions.

The president also renewed calls for frozen Russian assets to produce tangible benefits for Ukraine.

Zelensky has repeatedly described Ukrainian deep strikes as a tool for forcing Moscow toward peace. 

The message behind “long-range sanctions” is straightforward: as long as Russia continues its occupation and attacks on Ukraine, the infrastructure supporting Moscow’s war will remain under pressure.