Russia said it will intensify strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged to expand Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced the planned escalation on October 4, saying it would increase attacks on military facilities, defense-industry sites and related infrastructure, according to Vesti Baku.
Moscow and Kyiv Signal More Strikes
The ministry did not provide a timetable, scale or detailed list of intended operations. Its statement, also carried by Interfax, referred to Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine.
Moscow said its planned escalation was a response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory and to Zelenskyy’s pledge to intensify strikes on oil refineries.
In an interview with Reuters, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would step up attacks on Russian refineries in response to strikes on Ukrainian energy and transport infrastructure. He said Kyiv would target facilities that generate revenue for Russia’s war effort, not civilians.
Russia says its attacks are retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on civilian targets inside Russia. Both sides deny intentionally targeting civilians, and their claims about the intended targets of wartime attacks cannot always be independently verified.
Escalation Raises Winter Infrastructure Risks
The Russian statement followed a series of attacks on infrastructure in and around the Ukrainian capital. A recent strike on Kyiv’s Northern Bridge disrupted traffic across the Dnipro River, while Moscow has now publicly signaled that its campaign will expand.
The Associated Press reported that Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities as Ukraine continues striking Russian oil facilities.
The exchange of warnings increases the risk of broader attacks on energy and transport infrastructure ahead of winter. It also complicates efforts to revive negotiations because both sides are preparing further strikes without offering a timetable for de-escalation.