Zelensky says Russia is preparing major new attack on Ukraine

Russia is preparing a major new attack on Ukraine, ⁠President Volodymyr Zelensky ⁠said on Friday on Telegram, citing intelligence data.

Speaking later in his nightly video address, ⁠Zelensky said: “We have intelligence information about Russia preparing a new large-scale strike.”

“Our services are responding promptly and are prepared. The Air Force and other defenders of the sky will work 24/7, as they always do.”

Russia ⁠said ⁠on Monday it intended to launch “systematic strikes” on targets in Kyiv and warned foreigners and diplomats to leave.

It said the action was in response to a drone strike last week on ⁠a dormitory in Ukraine‘s Russian-held Luhansk region which killed 21 people. Ukraine denied carrying out the attack.

Russian strikes on Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine last Sunday killed ⁠two ‌people ‌and injured dozens.

In a ⁠Telegram post, ‌Zelensky called for further sanctions on Russia and said the ⁠implementation of agreements ⁠with partners on air defence must ⁠not be delayed.