Ukraine to Expand Attacks on Russian Oil Facilities, Zelenskyy Says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed intelligence documents indicating Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorized a "new doctrine of destruction" targeting a wide range of civilian infrastructure, including roads, logistics, schools, and hospitals, ahead of winter. Zelenskyy stated that Russia's aim is to "break the spirit" of the Ukrainian people and pressure them to leave their cities. In response to this alleged Russian terror against civilians, Ukraine plans to dramatically expand its attacks within Russian territory, focusing on oil refineries and key funding sources for Russia's war machine. Zelenskyy emphasized that unlike Russia, Ukraine will not target civilian infrastructure, but will instead target Russia's energy sector.

This announcement comes after a difficult week for Kyiv, which suffered heavy attacks on its power generation facilities, communication networks, and vital transportation routes. Meanwhile, U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to restart ceasefire talks in the energy sector have failed due to Moscow's refusal. Last weekend, a 14-year-old Ukrainian boy with Israeli citizenship was killed in a drone strike on an apartment building in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian offensive is expected to accelerate its campaign of long-range drone and missile attacks deep inside Russia. These attacks have already partially paralyzed Russian refining capacity and contributed to global fuel price surges in recent months. U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested that rising fuel prices are linked to the Russia-Ukraine war and urged Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian oil facilities, stating, "Don't hit diesel fuel, because that hurts the world."

Zelenskyy responded cynically to Trump's request, saying Ukraine would stop attacking Russian oil facilities if allies pressured Russia to cease its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. He added that Russia does not appear interested in stopping its attacks.