Russia Offers Debt Relief of Up to 10 Million Rubles to New Recruits for Ukraine War

Separately, the Russian military reported that its air defenses shot down projectiles heading for the Leningrad region in northwest Russia.

Missile Interceptions and Regional Tensions

The Leningrad region surrounds the major metropolitan area of St. Petersburg, a city of strategic and symbolic importance.

Despite the heightened threats, Ukraine and the European Union’s diplomatic mission in Kyiv have refused to be cowed. A statement from the EU representation said they would not leave the capital.

That defiance was tested on 25 May, when Russia launched a massive assault involving approximately 600 drones and 90 missiles, according to Ukrainian accounts.

Deadly Strikes Across Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky said nearly 90 people were injured in the capital alone, with further deaths and injuries reported in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.

Ukrainian authorities also confirmed at least one fatality and 15 wounded in eastern areas following the strikes.

Russia’s defense ministry said it had further intensified its attacks and warned of additional operations, citing military objectives in Ukraine.

The Kremlin’s debt relief move and the simultaneous escalation underscore Moscow’s push for fresh manpower amid severe losses on the front lines.