Zelensky says Putin ordered Russia’s military chiefs to abandon rules of war in airstrikes on Ukraine

Source: The Financial Times

Vladimir Putin ordered his military commanders to abandon the rules of war in airstrikes on Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Financial Times in an interview. Ukrainian intelligence agencies obtained the information through intercepts, he said.

Lifting those restrictions led to a sharp increase in strikes on civilian targets. Zelensky said Putin gave the order in September, when Russia stepped up its strikes on Kyiv, hitting schools, hospitals, and data centers. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the newspaper that Russian forces do not strike civilian infrastructure.

Zelensky also said Russia is preparing to step up attacks on Ukraine’s largest cities to isolate them by winter. The cities include Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv, Ukrainian and European intelligence officials told the Financial Times.

Ukrainian officials also say Russia plans to strike nuclear facilities to cut off their power supply, increase pressure on Kyiv, and force Ukraine to give in to Russia’s demands in early 2027. Another goal of Russia’s air campaign is to trigger a new wave of Ukrainian refugees to the EU. That would strain countries where anti-immigrant sentiment is rising.

In recent weeks, Russia has been using jet-powered drones that are harder for Ukrainian air defenses to shoot down. Zelensky said Ukraine is trying to develop specialized interceptors but faces engine shortages and a budget shortfall.

Zelensky said U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets are effective against Russia’s new jet-powered drones, but about half of the F-16s spend long periods undergoing repairs and maintenance in Europe.

Zelensky also criticized U.S. and European governments, saying they lacked the political will to force Putin to end the war. Asked whether his allies were doing everything possible to help Kyiv, he replied, “Not enough, of course, not enough.”

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Zelensky says Putin ordered Russia’s military chiefs to abandon rules of war in airstrikes on Ukraine

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Zelensky says Putin ordered Russia’s military chiefs to abandon rules of war in airstrikes on Ukraine

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