Russia Accuses Ukraine of 'Monstrous' Attack on a Confectionery

On Monday, February 5, Russia accused Ukraine of what the Kremlin called a 'monstrous' attack on a confectionery in one of the Russian-occupied cities in Ukraine. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, described the attack on Saturday in the city of Lysychansk as a 'terrorist act' against peaceful infrastructure. Russia reported that 28 people were killed in this attack. Lysychansk is located in eastern Ukraine and had a population of about 110,000 before the Russian invasion. This city, which is only 15 kilometers away from Ukrainian-controlled territory, fell to Russian forces in the summer of 2022. Ukrainian officials did not comment on this attack. Throughout the nearly two-year war, Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of attacking civilian areas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he is considering replacing several senior officials, including in the military, to appoint the best individuals to lead Ukraine. In an interview broadcast on Sunday on Italian state television, Zelensky mentioned that he is considering the best people for leadership in various sectors in Ukraine. He indicated that these changes could include the dismissal of his chief military commander, General Valery Zaluzhny. Zelensky had previously criticized Zaluzhny in November for telling a Western media outlet that the war in Ukraine had entered a new and protracted phase. Early on Sunday, during a visit to Ukrainian forces on the southeastern front, Zelensky awarded medals to pilots and received briefings on Russian attacks targeting areas in the Dnipropetrovsk region and how Western air defense systems are being used to protect Ukraine's skies. The U.S. Senate unveiled a bipartisan $118 billion border security plan on Sunday, which also includes aid packages for Ukraine and Israel. According to Reuters, this plan allocates about $60 billion for assistance to Ukraine.