English Lesson: Ukraine War News

Reading

June 25 (Reuters) - Ukraine will carry out preemptive attacks on facilities Russia is using for its war, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his evening address on Wednesday, as Kyiv expands strikes on energy infrastructure in an attempt to force Moscow into talks. On Wednesday, Ukrainian drones knocked out power in the biggest city in Russian-held Crimea and targeted facilities in central and southern Russia, as a fuel crisis deepened with Kyiv continuing to strike refineries and energy assets.

Vocabulary (15 words)

preemptive	done to prevent an anticipated event, especially an attack
facilities	buildings or equipment provided for a specific purpose
infrastructure	the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society
escalated	increased in intensity or seriousness
refineries	factories where raw materials such as oil are refined
assets	useful or valuable things or qualities
targeted	selected as an object of attention or attack
crisis	a time of intense difficulty or danger
strikes	military attacks
negotiations	discussions aimed at reaching an agreement
defense	the action of defending from or resisting attack
offensive	engaging in or ready to attack
strategic	relating to the identification of long-term aims
tactics	the art of arranging forces for battle
escalation	the process of increasing in intensity or severity

Vocabulary Exercises

Exercise 1: Match the word to its definition:

preemptive – done to prevent an anticipated event, especially an attack
facilities – buildings or equipment provided for a specific purpose
infrastructure – the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society
escalated – increased in intensity or seriousness
refineries – factories where raw materials such as oil are refined

Instructions: Match each word to its definition.

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences with the correct word:

The military carried out a ______ strike to prevent the enemy attack.
The country's ______ includes roads, bridges, and power plants.
The situation has ______ since the negotiations broke down.

Answers: preemptive, infrastructure, escalated

Grammar Points

Present Simple for Habits: Used for regular actions: 'Kyiv continues to strike refineries.'
Present Continuous for Ongoing Actions: Used for actions happening now: 'Ukrainian drones are knocking out power.'
Infinitive of Purpose: Used to express purpose: 'to force Moscow into talks'

Grammar Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the correct form:

Ukrainian drones ______ (knock out) power in Crimea.

knock out
are knocking out
knocked out

Correct answer: are knocking out

Exercise 2: Rewrite using the infinitive of purpose:

Kyiv is attacking refineries. It wants to force Moscow into talks.

Your answer: _________________________

Correct answer: Kyiv is attacking refineries to force Moscow into talks.

Reading Comprehension

What is the main reason Ukraine is attacking energy infrastructure?
1. To destroy Russia's economy
2. To force Moscow into talks
3. To gain control of Crimea
4. To win international support
Correct answer: To force Moscow into talks
What did Ukrainian drones knock out in Crimea?
1. Water supply
2. Internet
3. Power
4. Radio signals
Correct answer: Power
According to the article, what is Kyiv continuing to strike?
1. Military bases
2. Refineries and energy assets
3. Government buildings
4. Farms
Correct answer: Refineries and energy assets
What type of attack is Ukraine conducting?
1. Defensive
2. Preemptive
3. Retaliatory
4. Naval
Correct answer: Preemptive
Where are the targeted facilities located?
1. Only in Crimea
2. Only in Russia
3. In central and southern Russia
4. In Ukraine
Correct answer: In central and southern Russia

Answer Key

Vocabulary Matching:
  preemptive – done to prevent an anticipated event, especially an attack
  facilities – buildings or equipment provided for a specific purpose
  infrastructure – the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society
  escalated – increased in intensity or seriousness
  refineries – factories where raw materials such as oil are refined

Fill-in-the-blank:
  1. preemptive
  2. infrastructure
  3. escalated

Grammar:
  1. are knocking out
  2. Kyiv is attacking refineries to force Moscow into talks.

Reading Comprehension:
  1. To force Moscow into talks
  2. Power
  3. Refineries and energy assets
  4. Preemptive
  5. In central and southern Russia

English Lesson: Ukraine War News (Reading, Vocabulary, Grammar, Exercises)