Russian Defence Ministry says Ukraine's population should blame Zelensky for strikes
In short
Russia's Defence Ministry said Ukraine's population should blame only the head of what it calls the Kyiv regime for Russian strikes, and that President Volodymyr Zelensky bears full personal and political responsibility for the consequences. The ministry also promised to intensify strikes on military and military-industrial facilities in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine, saying it was responding to Ukrainian actions. It cited attempted strikes on State Duma election commissions, on Moscow and on the St Petersburg economic forum, and an attack on Belgorod, none of which the documents independently confirm.
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The Russian Defence Ministry said Ukraine's population should blame only the head of what it calls the Kyiv regime for Russian strikes, stating that President Volodymyr Zelensky bears full personal and political responsibility for the consequences, according to TASS and Vedomosti. The ministry also promised to intensify strikes on military and military-industrial facilities in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine, Vedomosti reported. [ 1 , 2 ]
The ministry said it had heard Zelensky's remarks about retaliatory strikes on Russian oil refineries, and said Russia carries out massive strikes on Ukraine in response to the actions of the Kyiv regime. It cited attempts to disrupt State Duma elections by striking precinct election commissions, which it said killed six civilians; attempts at a mass attack by more than 1,600 drones on Moscow on 19–20 September; attempted attacks on the St Petersburg economic forum in June 2026; and what it called a terrorist strike on residential districts of Belgorod, where it said there are no military facilities, killing and wounding civilians and damaging apartment blocks and vehicles. [ 2 ]
On recent strikes, the ministry said Russian forces hit the Northern Bridge in the Ukrainian capital in the night of 3 October, the road-railway bridge over the Dnipro and the “Kyivska” electrical substation on 2 October, and the Renta Logistik transport and logistics centre in Kyiv on 1 October, where it said a workshop for producing uncrewed boats had been set up in a warehouse building. [ 2 ]
TASS carried the statement in a short item focused on the blame placed on Zelensky. Vedomosti gave a longer account, including the ministry's justifications and its list of recent strikes. The documents contain no independent confirmation of the ministry's accounts of Ukrainian actions, and set out Zelensky's remarks only as described by the ministry. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The statement signals a declared escalation of Russian strikes on Ukrainian military and industrial sites, at a point when Kyiv and Moscow are trading public accusations over attacks. Naming Ukraine's president as personally responsible shifts the framing of civilian harm onto the Ukrainian leadership, a position official Russian media carried without qualification. The documents give no indication of how Ukraine or third parties responded, so the practical consequences remain unconfirmed.
Key facts
- Russia's Defence Ministry said Ukraine's population should blame only the head of the Kyiv regime for Russian strikes. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The ministry said Vladimir Zelensky bears full personal and political responsibility for the consequences. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The ministry promised to intensify strikes on military and military-industrial facilities in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine. [ 2 ]
- The ministry said it had heard Zelensky's remarks about retaliatory strikes on Russian oil refineries. [ 2 ]
- According to the ministry, attempts to disrupt State Duma elections by striking precinct election commissions killed six civilians. [ 2 ]
- The ministry cited attempted attacks by more than 1,600 drones on Moscow on 19–20 September and attempted attacks on the St Petersburg economic forum in June 2026. [ 2 ]
- The ministry said Russian forces hit the Northern Bridge in Kyiv overnight on 3 October, a bridge over the Dnipro and the Kyivska substation on 2 October, and the Renta Logistik centre in Kyiv on 1 October. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Ukrainian strikes on State Duma election commissions, the mass drone attack on Moscow and the attack on Belgorod took place as described. These accounts come only from the Russian Defence Ministry, reported by a single outlet in the documents, with no independent confirmation given.
- What Zelensky said about retaliatory strikes on Russian oil refineries. The remarks are referred to indirectly by the Defence Ministry; no wording, date or channel is given in the documents.
- The number of dead and wounded in the Belgorod attack, and the scale of damage to buildings and vehicles. The documents say only that civilians were killed and wounded and property was damaged, without figures.
- Whether the promised intensified strikes have been carried out. The documents announce the intention but give no later confirmation.
- The ministry stated that Russia conducts massive strikes on Ukraine in response to the actions of the Kyiv regime. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS publishes the Defence Ministry's statement that Ukraine's population should blame only the head of the Kyiv regime, saying Zelensky bears full responsibility. [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti publishes a fuller account of the ministry's statement, including its pledge to intensify strikes and its list of cited Ukrainian actions and recent Russian strikes. [ 2 ]