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Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as Moscow’s new doctrine of air attacks targeting Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, Reuters reported.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence had obtained documents indicating that Russian forces had been authorized to expand attacks against infrastructure, logistics, roads, schools and hospitals ahead of the winter.
“We saw documents and we know that they allow them to attack infrastructure, logistics, roads, schools, hospitals, to pressure people to leave the capital, leave different cities,” Zelenskyy told Reuters. “This is the goal of the operation.”
According to Zelenskyy, Russia's objective is to put pressure on civilians and encourage people to leave Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
He said Ukraine would respond by stepping up attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy-related targets. Zelenskyy stressed that Ukrainian strikes would not target civilians.
The Ukrainian president also said he had received no indications that Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to pursue a ceasefire or peace negotiations focused on energy infrastructure.
Zelenskyy linked the reported change in Russian tactics to the Kremlin's desire to demonstrate strength amid battlefield losses and heavy casualties. This is his assessment of Russia's motives rather than an independently established conclusion.
The statement comes amid a series of large Russian drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, including strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure as Ukraine prepares for another winter of war.
