Ukraine Plans More Strikes on Russian Refineries Over Expanded Air Campaign, Zelenskiy Says

Ukraine plans to intensify attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described as a broader Russian campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says Ukraine will target Russian oil refineries in response to Russian attacks. [Photo: Володимир Зеленський Facebook]

In an interview with Reuters, Zelenskiy said Ukrainian intelligence had obtained documents indicating that Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized a broader range of attacks on civilian infrastructure ahead of the winter.

“We saw documents and we know that they allow them to attack infrastructure, logistics, and especially to attack in the cities, in the villages, everywhere, roads, schools, hospitals,” Zelenskiy told Reuters.

Zelenskiy said the purpose of the campaign was to pressure residents to leave Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

Russia has said its attacks are retaliatory strikes in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine would respond by targeting Russian energy infrastructure, particularly oil refineries, which he said provide revenue for Russia's war effort.

“We have to respond in any way we can,” Zelenskiy said.

“With their attacks on our energy, we have to respond on their energy.”

He said Ukraine would not deliberately target civilian objects.

Zelenskiy also said a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the eastern Donbas region, code-named “Vivaldi,” had recaptured about 140 square kilometers (54 square miles) and remained ongoing.

Russia has said control of the Donbas is a condition for any peace agreement.

Zelenskiy said he had received no indication that Putin was prepared to discuss peace talks or a ceasefire covering energy infrastructure.