Kremlin vows to fight for every fraction of Donetsk as Germany pledges €1.35B in aid to Ukraine
Russia will fight for even 0.01% of Ukraine's Donetsk region, which Moscow claims as Russian territory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, vowing to continue the conflict "harshly" until a peaceful resolution is possible. Peskov warned that those planning devastating strikes on Russia will pay a price, as Ukraine is now. Russia's Defense Ministry also announced intensified attacks on Ukrainian military and defense industry facilities following President Zelensky's threats to increase strikes on Russian refineries. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made a surprise visit to Kyiv, urging Putin to stop the "senseless war" and announcing €1 billion in military aid plus €350 million for energy infrastructure. The UN reported 15,280 Ukrainian civilians killed or wounded in 2026's first eight months, a 55% increase from 2025.