Russia keeps striking Ukraine's energy grid as officials warn of 'weaponised winter'

Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz said its facilities were struck by Russian drones and missiles 13 times over the past week, and almost 300 times since the start of the year. The latest strikes caused serious damage to equipment and production capacity, though no injuries were reported. Ukrainian officials say Russia is deliberately 'weaponising' the coming winter. Separately, coal and power company DTEK reported that a Russian attack sparked a fire at one of its mines, killing a 52-year-old man.

Strikes inside Russia

After Ukraine launched a record number of drones at Russia, organisers cancelled the 'international' Spasskaya Tower military music festival planned for Red Square, postponing it to next year. Further drone attacks over Moscow on Monday night forced flight suspensions at Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports. Ukraine's general staff released images showing the results of a strike on the Kamensky Combine in Russia's Rostov region, which destroyed two workshops and damaged four more at the facility that produces solid rocket fuel for several multiple-launch rocket systems and missile munitions.

Ukrainian authorities also reported that a Russian drone, reportedly a Banderol-type loitering munition, crashed and exploded in Moldova on Monday afternoon near the settlement of Talmaza, setting grass alight but causing no casualties. Moldova condemned the airspace violation.

Opposition politician jailed

Ahead of Vladimir Putin's stage-managed September elections, a Russian court sentenced opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to 11 years and one month in prison for speaking against the war. His party, Yabloko, was recently barred from the elections, and Russia's supreme court rejected its appeal. Shlosberg told the court that Russia had travelled a path from hopes of freedom toward the near-total destruction of civil rights over the past 30 years. Amnesty International condemned the sentence as retaliation for exercising freedom of expression to call for peace. Yabloko said it would appeal the ruling.

British drones

Russia has threatened Britain with 'consequences' following reports that Ukraine used British-made drones, including a stealth model, for deep strikes on Russian territory.