Russia Expands Airstrike Targets; Zelenskyy Vows to Intensify Strikes on Oil Refineries | WPN World People News

As Russia continues its airstrikes across Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have retaliated with drone attacks targeting Russian energy and infrastructure facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on the 3rd that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an expansion of military strikes to include more civilian targets. In response to Moscow's offensive, Ukraine will step up strikes against Russian oil refineries.

According to a report by Reuters, Zelenskyy noted that documents obtained by Ukrainian intelligence reveal Putin issued new military strike guidelines ahead of winter, permitting Russian forces to broaden their target range to civilian sites. Zelenskyy stated that the documents show troops have been authorized to strike infrastructure, logistics facilities, as well as roads, schools, and hospitals in cities and villages. He believes this move is intended to exert pressure on civilians, forcing residents to flee Kyiv and other cities.

Zelenskyy suggested that Putin's strategic shift may be an effort to project strength amid Russian setbacks and mounting casualties on key frontline sectors. Addressing Russia's tactical pivot, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine will take necessary countermeasures, but will not indiscriminately target civilian facilities as Russia does. He pointed out that with Russian forces persistently attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukraine must respond proportionately, making Russian oil refineries a primary target in order to cut off funding for Moscow's war effort.

The Kremlin has not yet responded to Zelenskyy's statements. Meanwhile, in a statement advising foreign nationals to leave Kyiv, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Moscow will continue to strike targets "systematically," describing the operations as retaliation for attacks launched by Ukraine against Russia in recent months.