Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that, based on intelligence gathered by Kyiv, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered last month that limits on its air campaign be lifted.
The FT reported Zelenskyy’s accusations, which follow Russian attacks on Kyiv’s transportation, energy, and civilian infrastructure ahead of winter.
Putin with a Rifle. Image Credit: Russian State Media.
President Donald J. Trump participates in a bilateral meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the G20 Japan Summit Friday, June 28, 2019, in Osaka, Japan. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
The transcripts have not been made public, and therefore the claim cannot be independently verified.
Zelenskyy Says Restrictions Scrapped
Zelenskyy told the FT that Ukrainian intelligence became aware of the alleged order through intercepted correspondence with Kremlin officials.
He linked it to an increase in attacks that included schools, hospitals and data centers.
A Russian drone struck a school in Kyiv on Thursday morning.
CCTV footage seen by Reuters shows the weapon hitting the third floor and exploding, throwing a fireball into the building.
Over 100 pupils were inside at the time.
None were hurt as they had already taken shelter.
“They spare no one,” said school director Valentyna Chorna as rescue workers dug through the wreckage.
Zelenskyy visited the school later that day.
His office said more than 100 children and 60-plus teachers had sought shelter there when the drone struck, causing a fire and blowing out windows and doors and partially destroying a wall. “Everyone is alive, thank God,” Zelenskyy told teachers, thanking them for getting the children underground in time.
Russian Strikes Target Kyiv’s Bridges
The school was not the only target in Kyiv. Russian drones repeatedly hit the Southern Bridge over the Dnipro on Thursday before another round of attacks disrupted the morning commute on Friday.
The Southern and Paton bridges were temporarily closed while traffic across a third crossing was partly suspended. Reuters reported long traffic jams, with some commuters having to walk part of the way.
The two main crossings reopened around midday.
Friday’s attacks also struck a 25-story apartment building, killing one person and injuring two, according to city authorities.
Pressure on Energy Markets
Russia has imposed longer restrictions on diesel exports for producers through the end of October.
Putin said Russia had enough diesel, but the fuel would not leave the country while Western sanctions on Russian oil and petroleum products remained in place.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv has received proposals from the U.S., India, Turkey and Egypt to limit arrangements for energy infrastructure and the Black Sea.
India has put forward the most expansive offer, while the Turkish and Egyptian initiatives have focused more on food exports and shipping.
Kyiv says the two matters can’t be separated.
“We are ready for an energy and Black Sea ceasefire, but only in that combination,” Sybiha told reporters.
Such an arrangement would stop Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and Ukrainian strikes against Russian oil facilities while protecting commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
Ukraine Preparing for Another Winter Bombardment
Kyiv’s bigger fear is what comes next.
Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukrainian intelligence services had obtained two Russian documents outlining plans for attacks on its energy network this winter.
According to Shmyhal, the documents included calculations for strikes against power generation, heating, water and sewage systems and electricity interconnectors.
The documents, he said, shocked Ukraine’s partners with the “cynicism” and the “cold terrorist calculation” for the proposed attacks.
The New York Times subsequently reported it had obtained a copy of one of the documents.
The newspaper said it described a campaign involving as many as 1,000 missiles, drones and bombs targeting everything ranging from electrical substations and power plants to boiler houses and water infrastructure.
The Times said it couldn’t independently authenticate the document.
Ukraine is therefore trying to stock up on interceptors before temperatures drop.
Sybiha claimed Kyiv needs at least 300 Patriot interceptor missiles to provide even minimal protection through the winter.
That calculation is based on Ukrainian intelligence estimates that Russia has already stockpiled approximately 600 ballistic missiles and can produce another 120 to 140 a month.
What remains unclear is exactly what orders Putin has given his military.
Reuters reported Friday that a senior Ukrainian official attributed attacks on bridges, data centers, and power infrastructure to an order from Putin last month to lift constraints on Russia’s air campaign, an order first reported by the Financial Times.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
