Ukraine to Target Russian Oil Refineries After Putin’s New Airstrike Doctrine

On Oct. 3, in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will double down on attacking Russian oil refineries in response to a new policy of airstrikes by Moscow designed to force people to abandon the capital and other cities, while maintaining that Kyiv will not target civilians.

The New Russian Doctrine And Civilian Targeting In Kyiv

Ukrainian intelligence has obtained documents showing that Russian leader Vladimir Putin issued a new doctrine of military attacks targeting a much broader range of civilian infrastructure ahead of winter, Zelensky said. The documents reportedly permit strikes on logistics, roads, schools, and hospitals to pressure residents into leaving urban centers. Over the past week, the capital has faced persistent drone and missile attacks targeting energy, telecommunications, road, and rail assets, including strikes on bridges across the Dnipro River connecting east and west Kyiv for the first time.

We saw documents and we know that they allow them to attack infrastructure … logistics … roads, schools, hospitals, to pressure people to leave the capital, leave different cities. This is the goal of the operation.

Volodymyr Zelensky

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement urging foreign nationals to leave Kyiv and stated that Moscow would continue systematic retaliatory strikes for recent Ukrainian attacks inside Russia. Both warring sides continue to deny deliberately targeting civilians.

The Counteroffensive In Donbas And Energy Infrastructure Strikes

Zelensky reported that an ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive code-named Vivaldi has recaptured around 140 square kilometers (54 square miles) of the eastern Donbas region, which Russia demands in its entirety as a condition for any peace agreement. The four-year-old conflict remains Europe’s bloodiest since World War Two.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration recently urged Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil installations over concerns about surging global diesel prices. However, Zelensky stated he received no indications that Putin is interested in peace talks or discussing an energy infrastructure ceasefire. Zelensky defended the retaliatory strategy in English, stating that Ukraine must target the assets funding Russia’s war.

We have to respond in any way (we can). With their attacks on our energy, we have to respond on their energy. First of all, oil refiners: what gives money to them for this war. But we will not respond, of course, just like them, on any civilian objects.

Volodymyr Zelensky

Diplomatic Moves And Air Defense Shortages Ahead Of Winter

Following the Trump administration’s invitation for Putin to attend a G20 summit in Miami in December and subsequent business talks with Russian envoys, Zelensky warned Washington against normalizing relations before peace is secured. He stated he would be willing to meet Putin at the G20 but cautioned the U.S. not to believe in illusions regarding Russian intentions in Donbas. While the U.S. has proposed trilateral technical talks in the United Arab Emirates in the coming weeks, Zelensky noted that exact dates and locations remain unconfirmed.

Ukrainian officials warn that Russia has stockpiled hundreds of ballistic missiles for a winter onslaught.

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