Zelensky says Putin ordered Russia’s military chiefs to abandon rules of war in airstrikes on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed in an interview that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his military commanders to disregard the rules of war during airstrikes on Ukraine. This decision, according to Zelensky, came in September when Russia intensified its strikes on Ukrainian cities, targeting schools, hospitals, and data centers.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refuted these allegations, stating that Russian forces do not target civilian infrastructure. Zelensky also warned that Russia is preparing to escalate attacks on Ukraine's major cities, such as Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv, to isolate them during the winter. The Ukrainian government believes Russia aims to cut off power to nuclear facilities, increase pressure on Kyiv, and force Ukraine to capitulate to Russia's demands by early 2027.

Another objective is to generate a surge of Ukrainian refugees heading to the European Union, which could exacerbate anti-immigrant sentiment in countries experiencing such influxes. Recently, Russia has employed jet-powered drones that are more challenging to neutralize with Ukrainian air defenses. Zelensky said Ukraine is striving to develop specialized interceptors but faces engine shortages and a budget shortfall.

He also criticized U.S. and European governments for lacking the political will to compel Putin to cease the conflict, stating, "Not enough, of course, not enough."