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Zelenskiy says Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow’s expanded air campaign.
Ukraine will intensify attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described as Moscow’s new policy of airstrikes against a wider range of targets, while saying Kyiv will not deliberately target civilians.
Zelenskiy made the remarks in a Reuters interview as Russian drone and missile attacks continued to target infrastructure in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Zelenskiy said Ukrainian intelligence had obtained documents indicating that Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorised a broader campaign against infrastructure and other targets ahead of the winter.
He said the alleged policy was aimed at putting pressure on residents to leave Kyiv and other cities, and claimed the targets included roads, schools, hospitals, logistics and energy infrastructure. Russia’s Foreign Ministry, however, said Moscow would continue what it described as targeted retaliatory strikes against Ukrainian cities in response to attacks on Russia. Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians. Zelenskiy said Ukraine would respond to attacks on its energy infrastructure by striking facilities that help finance Russia’s war effort.
“We have to respond in any way we can,” he told Reuters, adding that oil refineries would be among the targets. Ukraine has already carried out strikes against Russian energy facilities in recent months. Reuters reported in September that Ukrainian forces hit an oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region amid continuing attacks on energy infrastructure by both sides.
Zelenskiy also said a Ukrainian counteroffensive, code-named “Vivaldi”, had recaptured around 140 square kilometres of territory in the eastern Donbas region and was continuing. Meanwhile, the administration of US President Donald Trump has been seeking to revive negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. Zelenskiy said he had seen no indication that Putin was interested in peace talks or an agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine was also working to counter a growing threat from Russian jet-powered Shahed drones. He said Ukrainian fighter aircraft, including F-16s and MiGs, were being used to intercept around 60% of the new drones, but ammunition supplies for the aircraft were running low. Kyiv is developing interceptor drones and expanding electronic warfare capabilities, while Zelenskiy said the country expected to receive a first shipment of smaller air-defence missiles later this month. Saudi Arabia intercepts 2 Houthi missiles, 4 drones targeting south