Russia ups assaults on Kyiv as battlefield progress stalls

Russia is scaling up its assaults on Ukraine, launching non-stop drone strikes across busy areas of Kyiv as it looks to pummel the capital’s residents into submission.

The onslaught — typified by a surge in daytime attacks — comes as its battlefield progress stalls and Ukraine strikes deeper into Russian territory. Analysts fear that growing challenges at home, including a slowing economy and rare signs of public discontent, could push Russian President Vladimir Putin into attacking European NATO members, especially those that have supported Ukraine’s military capabilities.

“The Russians will expand the war because in their grand strategy,” an expert told The Wall Street Journal’s chief foreign affairs correspondent. “Ukraine is an obstacle and not the prize.”