Russian forces are poised to intensify their offensive in a bid to take full control of the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The Russian defense ministry said on Saturday that its forces destroyed Ukrainian military weapons in the northwestern region of Zhytomyr using Kalibr cruise missiles.
Russia claimed that the weapons were delivered from Western countries and intended for Ukrainian troops in the two regions in the east.
Russia also said its missile attacks on a port in Odesa in the south destroyed fuel storage facilities for Ukrainian armored vehicles.
The Ukrainian military is fighting back. US think tank the Institute for the Study of War said on Friday that Russian forces are likely preparing for a major Ukrainian counteroffensive and a protracted conflict.
On Saturday, Finland’s state-owned gas wholesaler Gasum said Russia has halted the supply of natural gas to the country. Russia’s largest government-affiliated gas company Gazprom confirmed the cutoff.
The move came after Finland applied to join NATO. The electricity supply to Finland from Russia was stopped on May 14.
The Russian foreign ministry on Saturday released a list of 963 Americans who are barred from entering the country in retaliation for sanctions imposed by the United States.
The list includes US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and company executives. Biden and Blinken were banned from entering in March.
Russia announced on Friday it will increase the number of military units by the end of the year in its western military district, which borders European nations. Moscow said the plan is aimed at countering NATO.
