Russia vows to intensify strikes on Kyiv after Zelensky refinery pledge

Russia will intensify strikes on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Sunday, responding to an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he vowed increased attacks on Russian refineries. The ministry said Russian forces would step up attacks on military facilities, defence industry sites and related infrastructure in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky told Reuters in an interview published on Saturday that Ukraine would double down on attacking Russian oil refineries in response to a new policy of airstrikes by Moscow designed to force people to abandon Kyiv and other cities. He said Ukrainian forces would not target civilians.

Russia has recently escalated strikes on infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital, including hitting bridges across the Dnipro river. The intensifying campaign has seriously disrupted life for the capital's three million residents ahead of the bitter winter months. The Russian Defence Ministry said its recent strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions were a response to what it described as attacks by Kyiv on civilian targets inside Russia. Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians.

This latest escalation is a further chapter in Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year. Moscow's brutal campaign has repeatedly struck civilian infrastructure and energy facilities, leaving millions without reliable power and heating as winter approaches. Ukraine, defending its sovereignty against Russian aggression, has targeted oil refineries and military sites deep inside Russian territory, a campaign Kyiv regards as legitimate self-defence.

The World House, which maintains a dedicated page outlining its support for Ukraine at worldhouse.uk/support, continues to document the consequences of Russia's aggression.