Zelenskyy says Putin ordered Russia to strike Ukraine without rules

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said intelligence gathered by Kyiv indicates that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his military command to conduct air attacks on Ukraine “without rules.”

According to Deutsche Welle, citing Zelenskyy’s interview with the Financial Times, Ukrainian intelligence assessed that Moscow’s new approach has contributed to a sharp increase in attacks on civilian targets. Zelenskyy said Russia has intensified strikes on schools, hospitals, data centers and critical urban infrastructure as winter approaches.

Zelenskyy cites intelligence on Putin’s order

Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence obtained information suggesting that Putin had instructed Russia’s military leadership to abandon previous limits on air attacks against Ukraine.

Referring to the intelligence, the Ukrainian president said Putin told commanders that “there are no rules now.” Zelenskyy said the information included intercepted communications involving Kremlin officials.

The claim comes amid a wider Ukrainian warning that Russia has changed the character of its air campaign. Kyiv says recent strikes have increasingly targeted civilian and digital infrastructure rather than only energy or military-linked facilities.

Moscow has repeatedly denied deliberately targeting civilians. Ukraine, however, says the pattern of attacks on residential areas, schools, hospitals, power systems and communications infrastructure shows a deliberate strategy to pressure the population.

Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa seen as main targets

Zelenskyy said the alleged order was given in September, at a time when Russia increased attacks on Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities.

According to the Ukrainian president, Russia is preparing to intensify strikes on Ukraine’s largest cities in an effort to isolate them from the rest of the country as winter begins. He identified Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as the main targets.

Ukrainian and European security officials familiar with intelligence assessments also believe Lviv appears in Russia’s planning. The western Ukrainian city has often been considered safer than front-line regions but has been struck repeatedly since the full-scale invasion began.

Zelenskyy said the aim of the attacks is not only to damage infrastructure but also to create psychological pressure, disrupt daily life and push civilians toward displacement.

Civilian and digital infrastructure under pressure

The Ukrainian president said Russia’s recent air campaign has included attacks on schools, hospitals and data centers. Such sites are essential not only for civilian life but also for communication, administration and emergency response during wartime.

Attacks on data centers and communication nodes can disrupt internet access, public services and coordination between local authorities. Strikes on schools and hospitals, meanwhile, deepen the humanitarian cost of the war and increase pressure on communities already living under constant threat.

Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia is seeking to weaken the ability of major cities to function during winter. Such a strategy could place additional pressure on electricity, heating, health care and communications systems.

Jet-powered drones create new challenges

Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s air defense systems are intercepting about 57 percent of jet-powered drones and around 85 to 90 percent of conventional drones.

The figures point to a growing challenge for Ukrainian defenses. Conventional drones can often be tracked and intercepted with established systems, but faster jet-powered drones require new approaches, better detection and more specialized interceptor capabilities.

Ukraine has been adapting its air defense network throughout the war, using a mix of Western-supplied systems, Soviet-era equipment, mobile fire groups and domestically developed technologies. The emergence of faster drones has added another layer of difficulty.

The Ukrainian president said Kyiv is currently testing five models of interceptors designed to counter jet-powered unmanned aircraft.

Ukraine aims to produce 400 interceptors

Zelenskyy said Ukraine could produce about 400 units of one interceptor model by the end of October. The goal is part of Kyiv’s effort to build a faster and more flexible response to Russia’s drone campaign.

He said one of the biggest obstacles is the shortage of engines. According to Zelenskyy, engines are a key component, and Ukraine imports them in large numbers. Domestic production exists, but he said it is not yet sufficient to meet demand.

The production of interceptor drones has become increasingly important as Russia launches larger mixed attacks involving missiles, conventional drones and faster drone systems. Ukraine is seeking to expand domestic production while continuing to request support from Western partners.

Winter raises concerns over wider attacks

The warnings come as Ukraine prepares for another winter under the threat of Russian strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure. In previous winters, Russia targeted power plants, substations and heating systems, causing blackouts and disruption across the country.

This year, Kyiv fears the campaign could be broader, combining attacks on energy facilities with strikes against digital infrastructure, schools, hospitals and residential areas.

For Ukraine, strengthening air defense and scaling up domestic interceptor production have become urgent priorities. Zelenskyy’s comments indicate that Kyiv expects Russia to continue using air attacks not only as a military tool but also as a means of pressuring civilians during the coldest months of the year.

WiseNewsPress.com