Zelensky Threatens Escalation of Attacks on Russian Oil Refineries

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with Reuters, claimed that Kyiv would not target civilian objectives in its strikes against Russia. However, he threatened to escalate attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow’s new policy of launching airstrikes aimed at forcing residents of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities to leave their homes.

Zelensky stated in the interview, “We must respond to their attacks on our energy sector by any means possible; we must respond to their energy sector. First and foremost, we will target oil refineries, as they are the source of funding for advancing this war.”

Zelensky alleged that Ukrainian intelligence services have obtained documents proving that Russian President Vladimir Putin has adopted a new policy to conduct more extensive attacks on civilian targets before the onset of winter. Zelensky attributed the primary motivation for this policy shift to “Putin’s desire to portray himself as a strong individual.” He claimed that Ukrainian forces, under the codename “Vivaldi,” have successfully recaptured approximately 140 square kilometers of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, an area Russia has stipulated as a condition for any peace agreement and demands full control over.

Last month, Donald Trump had urged Ukraine to refrain from attacking Russian oil facilities, citing concerns that such actions would lead to an increase in global diesel prices.

Ukraine’s capital was subjected to repeated Russian drone and missile attacks on energy facilities, communications, and road and rail infrastructure last week. Russia also targeted the bridge over the Dnipro River, which connects the east and west of Kyiv, for the first time.