Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski claimed that Ukrainian intelligence has obtained documents showing that Russian President Vladimir Putin has adopted a "new doctrine" that allows attacking a much wider range of targets before winter.
Zelenski argued that the new strategy included infrastructure, logistics lines, roads, schools and hospitals, and said that Moscow's aim was to force those living in Kiev and other major cities to leave the region.
Russia denies the accusation that it deliberately targeted civilians. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the latest attacks were in response to Ukraine's attacks on Russian territory and announced that the operations would continue.
''IF THEY ATTACK OUR ENERGY, WE WILL RETURN THEIR ENERGY''
Zelenski stated that Ukraine would also respond to Moscow's tactical change and listed oil refineries among the priority targets.
Stating that Russian energy facilities played an important role in financing the war, Zelenski emphasized that Ukraine would not attack civilian targets indiscriminately. Last month, US President Donald Trump asked Ukraine to reduce attacks on Russian oil facilities and said that these attacks increased global diesel prices.
OPERATION 'VIVALDI' IN DONBAS
Zelenski also said that the counter-offensive codenamed 'Vivaldi' enabled the recapture of approximately 140 square kilometers of area in Donbas and that the operation continues. Russia, on the other hand, wants the entire Donbas to come under its control as one of the conditions of any peace agreement.
Zelenski also said that they had not received any signals from Moscow that it was ready for peace talks or to stop mutual attacks on energy infrastructure.
F-16s ARE IN ACTION AGAINST NEW RUSSIAN UAVS
According to the Ukrainian administration, Russia has recently begun to intensively use faster, jet-powered Shahid unmanned aerial vehicles. Zelenski stated that Ukraine shot down approximately 60 percent of these UAVs with F-16 and MiG warplanes, but the stocks of 20-millimeter ammunition used in the aircraft have decreased.
The Kyiv administration is trying to strengthen electronic warfare systems and develop new interceptor UAVs. Zelenski said that two of the five new interceptor UAV models developed reached a success rate of approximately 30 percent in tests.
GERMANY PRIME MINISTER MERZ IS IN UKRAINE
On the other hand, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz came to the capital Kiev today to pay a solidarity visit to Ukraine, which is under Russian attacks.
Friedrich Merz, who came to Kiev by private train, was accompanied by Minister of Economy and Energy Katherina Reiche and 10 business people from the defense and energy sectors.
Merz, in his statement in Kiev, said, "If Russia is not stopped, the war machine will turn towards us sooner or later." he said.
Stating that Ukraine needs all the support of Germany in the coming weeks, Merz emphasized that they will continue to support the country before the upcoming winter.
RESPONSE FROM RUSSIA TO ZELENSKY: WE WILL INTENSE OUR ATTACKS
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's statement that attacks on Russian oil refineries will be increased, attacks on military and military industrial facilities and related infrastructure in Kiev and other regions of Ukraine will be intensified.
In the statement made by the Ministry, Zelenski's statement that attacks on Russian oil refineries would be intensified in response to Russia's attacks on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and missile production facilities in Ukraine and the infrastructure used in the interests of the Ukrainian army was reminded.
In the statement, it was noted that Russia's intense attacks on Kiev and other parts of Ukraine were carried out in response to the actions of the Ukrainian side, and it was reminded that Kiev tried to prevent the State Duma elections in Russia with attacks.
In the statement, 6 civilians lost their lives in attacks on election commissions with missiles and UAVs, an attempt was made to attack civilian facilities in Moscow with more than 1600 UAVs on September 19-20, and in St. Petersburg in June. It was stated that an attempt was made to prevent the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum with UAV attacks.
In the statement, it was shared that Ukraine carried out a "terrorist" attack on residential areas in Belgorod last night, and it was noted that civilians were killed and injured in the attack, and apartments, detached houses and vehicles were damaged.
The statement included the following statements:
"Following Zelensky's statement today, the Russian Armed Forces' attacks on military and military industrial facilities and their associated infrastructure in Kiev and other regions of Ukraine will be increased. The Ukrainian people should only blame the head of the Kiev regime for this. The person who bears all personal and political responsibility for this is Zelensky."
