Zelensky accuses Putin of abandoning war rules in air campaign

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering commanders to disregard the rules of war in airstrikes across Ukraine, including attacks affecting Kyiv, according to reports published on 2 Oct and 3 Oct. One report said Zelensky made the claim during a visit to a shelter at a school damaged in a Russian drone attack.¹²

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Intelligence cited by Kyiv

Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had intercepted communications involving Kremlin officials that indicated Putin had removed previous restrictions on Russian commanders. Meduza reported that Ukrainian intelligence agencies obtained information about the alleged order through intercepts. The Independent quoted Zelensky as saying of Putin: “He said there are no rules now.” Neither report provided independent confirmation that such an order had been issued.¹²

In a separate account, Zelensky said Ukraine had seen documents permitting attacks on a wider range of infrastructure, including transport links, logistics networks, schools and hospitals. He alleged that the policy was intended to pressure residents to leave Kyiv and other cities. Meduza also reported his claim that Russia was preparing to isolate major cities, including Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv, and potentially produce another movement of Ukrainian refugees towards the European Union.¹³

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied that Russian forces strike civilian infrastructure. Russia says its attacks are directed at military-related buildings or infrastructure, and described recent strikes as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks. Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately attacking civilians.¹²³

Strikes disrupt Kyiv transport

The allegations came as Russian attacks affected Kyiv and its surrounding region. A drone struck the Southern Bridge during the capital’s evening rush hour, forcing full or partial traffic suspensions and producing long delays, The Independent reported. According to the same report, the bridge spans the Dnipro and handles almost 90 per cent of travel between Kyiv's two sides.²

Russian drone attacks also struck warehouses in Kyiv Oblast and injured at least four people, according to regional administration head Tymur Tkachenko. The Independent reported that one of those hurt was an eight-year-old child who suffered a shrapnel injury to a lower limb. One warehouse belonged to Venta LTD, described by the report as Ukraine’s third-largest pharmaceutical distributor.²

The Straits Times reported that attacks during the preceding week had affected Kyiv’s energy, telecommunications, road and railway infrastructure, as well as bridges over the Dnipro. Meduza separately reported that strikes on the capital increased in September and hit schools, hospitals and data centres. Those accounts attributed the escalation to the alleged removal of restrictions, a connection that has not been independently confirmed in the dossier.¹³

Ukraine plans refinery attacks

Zelensky said Ukraine would step up attacks on Russian oil refineries in response, while continuing not to target civilians. He said attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities required a response against Russian energy assets. The Moscow Times reported that Zelensky portrayed Russia’s change in approach as an attempt by Putin to project strength while Russian forces were losing ground in a significant frontline area.³⁴

The Straits Times reported that Ukraine’s Vivaldi counteroffensive had recovered about 140 square kilometres of Donbas. The outlet also reported Ukraine’s announcement of the first combat use of its domestically produced FP-7 ballistic missile, which has a stated range of about 250 kilometres. Each of those battlefield claims comes from a single source in the dossier.³

Pressure on Ukrainian air defences

Russia has recently deployed jet-powered drones that are more difficult for Ukrainian air defences to destroy, according to Meduza. The Straits Times reported that Ukrainian fighter aircraft brought down about 60 per cent of such drones during the summer, but that supplies of 20mm ammunition were running low. It said new Ukrainian interceptor-drone models achieved a success rate of about 30 per cent in tests.¹³

Zelensky said US-made F-16 fighters were effective against the jet-powered drones, though Meduza reported that about half of the aircraft spend extended periods in Europe for repair and maintenance. Ukraine is also developing specialised interceptors but faces shortages of engines and funding, according to that report. Separately, Ukraine and European partners were working on a plan to cover a $27 billion gap in the country’s defence budget.¹³