Russia says it heard Zelensky vow more strikes on oil refineries
In short
Russia's defence ministry said it “heard” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that Kyiv will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries, according to TASS, RIA Novosti and Interfax. Meduza reported that the ministry then promised to widen its own strikes in Ukraine on military and military-industrial targets and related infrastructure. Meduza said Zelensky made his remarks in a Reuters interview published on Saturday, in which he also said Ukraine would not strike civilian objects.
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Russia's defence ministry said it “heard” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that Kyiv would intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries, TASS, RIA Novosti and Interfax reported on Sunday. Interfax quoted the ministry as saying the intensified Ukrainian strikes would be a response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities in Kyiv, “where drones and missile weapons for attacks on Russia are produced,” and on infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Meduza reported that the defence ministry then promised to expand its own strikes in Ukraine, “on military and military-industrial objects, as well as related infrastructure.” TASS and RIA Novosti, available only as feed summaries, recorded only that the ministry had heard Zelensky's statement. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Meduza reported that Zelensky made his statement in an interview with Reuters published on Saturday. According to Meduza, Zelensky said Ukrainian special services had obtained documents indicating that Vladimir Putin had ordered the list of targets for strikes on Ukraine to be widened before winter, and that the Russian president had decided in this way to “demonstrate strength” at a time when Russian troops are losing positions and taking heavy losses. [ 4 ]
Meduza quoted Zelensky as saying: “We saw documents and know that they allow strikes on infrastructure, logistics hubs and, in particular, on cities and villages — everywhere: on roads, schools, hospitals. To force people to leave the capital, to leave other cities — that is the goal of this operation.” [ 4 ]
Meduza also quoted Zelensky as saying Ukraine would respond to Moscow's change of tactics but would not carry out indiscriminate strikes on civilian infrastructure: “In response to their attacks on our energy sector we must hit their energy sector. Above all, oil refineries and the like — what brings them money for this war. But we, of course, will not, like them, strike any civilian objects.” No dates or specific targets were given in any of the documents. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The documents record both sides publicly committing to more strikes on energy and military-industrial targets as winter approaches, which points to further escalation rather than any pause. The documents give no dates, target lists or evidence, so the practical scale of the announced intensification is not yet described.
Key facts
- Russia's defence ministry said it “heard” Zelensky's statement that the Kyiv government would intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Interfax quoted the ministry as saying the intensified Ukrainian strikes would come in response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities in Kyiv, where drones and missile weapons for attacks on Russia are produced, and on infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces. [ 3 ]
- Meduza reported that the defence ministry promised to expand its own strikes on targets in Ukraine, including military and military-industrial objects and related infrastructure. [ 4 ]
- Meduza reported that Zelensky made his statement in an interview with Reuters published on Saturday. [ 4 ]
- According to Meduza, Zelensky said Ukrainian special services had obtained documents indicating that Vladimir Putin had ordered the target list for strikes on Ukraine to be widened before winter. [ 4 ]
- Meduza quoted Zelensky as saying Ukraine would respond to Moscow's change of tactics but would not carry out indiscriminate strikes on civilian infrastructure. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Russia will in fact widen its strikes, and against which targets. Only Meduza reports the ministry's pledge to expand attacks; TASS and RIA Novosti are available as feed summaries only, and Interfax quotes only the ministry's statement that it heard Zelensky, so scope and timing are not described.
- Zelensky's claim that Ukrainian special services hold documents showing Putin ordered a wider target list before winter. Reported only by Meduza from Zelensky's Reuters interview; the other documents do not mention such documents or order, and no evidence is described.
- Which Russian refineries Ukraine intends to strike, and when. No document names targets or dates; the coverage rests on Zelensky's statement that strikes would be intensified.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Reuters publishes an interview in which Zelensky says Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries, according to Meduza. [ 4 ]
- TASS reports that Russia's defence ministry heard Zelensky's statement that the Kyiv government would intensify strikes on oil refineries. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports the same, describing the remarks as threats to attack Russian refineries. [ 2 ]
- Interfax carries the defence ministry's statement that it heard Zelensky's remarks. [ 3 ]
- Meduza publishes its daily war report, with Zelensky's interview remarks and the defence ministry's response. [ 4 ]