Ukraine to target Russian oil refineries in response to new airstrike campaign, says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country will intensify attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow's new policy of launching air raids aimed at forcing residents of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities to leave.

Zelensky told Reuters that Ukrainian intelligence has obtained documents proving that Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a new directive to carry out broader attacks on civilian targets before the onset of winter.

"We have reviewed the documents and know they allow attacks on infrastructure, logistics, roads, schools, and hospitals to pressure people to leave the capital and various cities," the Ukrainian president said.

Zelensky stated that the motivation behind this policy shift is Putin's desire to appear strong at a time when his forces are losing territory in a key frontline region and suffering further casualties.

The Ukrainian president also said that an ongoing counteroffensive, codenamed 'Vivaldi,' has seen Ukrainian forces regain control of about 140 square kilometers in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, an area Russia insists on fully controlling as a condition for any peace agreement.

Last week, the Ukrainian capital came under sustained drone and missile attacks by Russian forces targeting energy facilities, communications, and road and rail infrastructure. For the first time, Russia also struck bridges over the Dnipro River linking eastern and western Kyiv.

Zelensky said Ukraine will respond to Moscow's change in tactics, but its response will not involve indiscriminate strikes on civilian infrastructure as Russia has done.