Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin ordered in September that restrictions previously in place during Russia’s air campaigns be lifted.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in an interview with the Financial Times.
This is evidenced by data obtained by Ukraine’s security services from intercepted conversations involving Kremlin representatives. Zelenskyy noted that after this, Russia began stepping up attacks on Kyiv, including strikes on schools, hospitals and data centres.
In this way, Moscow is preparing for further strikes on Ukraine’s largest cities in order, with the onset of winter, to isolate them from the rest of the country.
Main targets are Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa, as well as Lviv
Among the main targets, according to Ukrainian intelligence, are Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa. Lviv, according to Ukrainian and European officials, also features in Russia’s plans.
Ukrainian representatives told the FT that Moscow also intends to attack nuclear facilities in order to disconnect them from the power grid. They said the aim of such actions is to increase pressure on Kyiv so that it agrees to Russian demands in early 2027.
Another element of the strategy, they said, could be a new wave of refugees to the EU.
Russia’s air campaign has intensified against the backdrop of Ukrainian strikes on refineries, ports and warehouses on Russian territory. At the same time, the front line in eastern Ukraine remains largely static, and Russian forces are suffering heavy losses and are struggling to advance.
Ukraine is developing high-speed interceptor drones: five models currently being tested
Zelenskyy also spoke separately about the scale of Russian attacks. According to him, over the past 24 hours (at the time of the interview – Ed.) Russia launched about 500 drones, roughly half of them jet-powered. Ukrainian forces destroy about 57% of jet-powered drones and 85–90% of conventional drones.
Ukraine is developing high-speed interceptor drones to counter new Russian weapons. Five such models are currently being tested. Zelenskyy said that by the end of October Ukraine would be able to produce about 400 units of one of them, but production is being held back, among other things, by a shortage of engines.
The President also said that US F-16 fighter jets are effectively countering Russia’s new jet-powered drones. At the same time, he said, about half of Ukraine’s F-16s have been in Europe for a long time for repairs and maintenance. Kyiv wants to move some of this work to Ukraine in order to return aircraft to combat use more quickly.
Asked whether partners are doing everything possible to help Ukraine, Zelenskyy replied: "Not enough, of course, not enough."
What is known about Russia’s latest bombardment?
- Almost 50 of the 100 drones Russia launched overnight were jet-powered. Ukrainian troops neutralised most of the UAVs, but there were hits.
- In Kyiv, Shaheds struck the Pivdennyy Bridge several times, and in the morning a Russian attack damaged a high-rise building — one person was killed. Overall, four people are known to have been injured.
- Civilian facilities were also damaged in Kherson, Kharkiv, Kramatorsk and Sumy. Dnipropetrovsk Region, Odesa Region, Kharkiv Region, Kyiv Region, Poltava Region and Rivne Region were also hit.