Zelensky: We will bomb Russian refineries in response to the new air strikes policy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev will not target civilians, but will intensify its attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow's new policy of launching air strikes with the aim of forcing residents of Kiev and other Ukrainian cities to leave. Zelensky added that Ukrainian intelligence has obtained documents proving that Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a new policy requiring broader attacks on civilian targets before the winter arrives. Zelensky continued, "We have seen the documents and know that they allow them to do so." By attacking infrastructure... logistics services... roads, schools and hospitals, to pressure people to leave the capital and various cities.” He added, “This is the goal of the operation.”

Zelensky said that the motivation behind this shift in policy is Putin's desire to appear strong at a time when his army is losing territory in a key area on the front line and suffers more casualties. It was not possible to obtain a comment from the Kremlin on Saturday. But in a statement urging foreign nationals to leave Kiev, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would continue to bomb targets in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russia in the past few months. Both sides deny targeting civilians.

Counter-offensive in Donbas Zelensky said that a Ukrainian counter-offensive, code-named Vivaldi, is underway in which forces have regained control of about 140 square kilometers of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine, an area that Russia requires full control of for any peace agreement. US President Donald Trump's administration has sought in the past few weeks to revive talks to end the four-year conflict that has caused the highest death toll in Europe since World War II. Trump urged Ukraine last month to refrain from... Bombing Russian oil facilities, saying it leads to a rise in global diesel prices. But Zelensky, speaking as sirens sounded outside the presidential offices, said he had received no indications from Russia that Putin was interested in peace talks or in discussing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure. Last week, the Ukrainian capital was subjected to sustained attacks by Russian drones and missiles on energy facilities, telecommunications, road and railway infrastructure. Russia also targeted for the first time bridges over the Dnipro River linking eastern and western Kiev. Zelensky said that Ukraine will respond to this change in Moscow's methods, but its response will not be by randomly bombing civilian infrastructure, as Russia does. We respond, of course, just like them, to any civilian targets.”

A few days ago, Ukraine revealed the first combat use of its locally manufactured ballistic missile (FB-7), which has a range of about 250 kilometers. Zelensky said that he had contacted Firepoint, the missile manufacturer, to put pressure on executives to quickly finish work on a model with a longer range, which is (FB-9), which the company said was capable of reaching Moscow. Zelensky said with a smile, “I told them: Where are the FB-9 missiles? We need them.” The FB-9 missile, and I am sure that the FB-9 missile will be ready this fall.” He added that, after talks with European officials in Brussels last week, Ukraine was able to obtain funding to proceed with orders to purchase the drones it needs to continue fighting at the beginning of 2027. Ukrainian officials worked on a plan with European partners to close a $27 billion deficit in Kiev’s defense budget this year.