Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Zelenskiy Vows More Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, says Russia is preparing to attack more kinds of places in Ukraine.
He says Ukraine will respond by striking Russian oil refineries, which help pay for the war, but will not attack civilian places indiscriminately.
Russia says its attacks are retaliation for Ukrainian attacks, and both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.
Zelenskiy says Ukrainian forces have retaken about 140 square kilometres in Donbas and are still fighting there.
He says Ukrainian aircraft stop many Russian jet-powered drones, but the planes are running short of some ammunition.
Ukraine is also working on missiles, electronic jamming and interceptor drones to defend against them.
Zelenskiy says Ukraine and European partners have plans to address a $27 billion defence-budget gap.
The United States has proposed more talks, but a date and location have not been set.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine would intensify attacks on Russian oil refineries, which he said help finance Russia’s war, while avoiding indiscriminate strikes on civilian objects.
Zelenskiy said Ukrainian intelligence had obtained documents outlining a broader Russian airstrike policy; Russia described its strikes as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks.
He said Ukraine’s ongoing Vivaldi counteroffensive had recaptured about 140 square kilometres in Donbas.
Zelenskiy said aircraft were downing about 60% of Russian jet-powered drones, while 20 mm ammunition was running low; tests of two interceptor-drone models had shown about 30% success.
He cited plans with European partners to address a $27 billion defence-budget gap and said proposed US-brokered talks had no confirmed date or location.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy; the Russian government and the Russian Foreign Ministry are also discussed.
- What
- Zelenskiy said Ukraine would intensify attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to what he described as a broader Russian airstrike policy.
- When
- In a Reuters interview reported October 3; the year is not specified in the articles.
- Where
- The conflict concerns Ukraine and Russia, including Kyiv and the Donbas region.
- Why
- Zelenskiy said refinery attacks would answer Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy and target revenue that funds Russia’s war.
Ukraine’s account
Russia’s stated position
Purpose of Russian strikes
Ukraine’s account
Zelenskiy said documents obtained by Ukrainian intelligence described a broader policy of attacks intended to pressure people to leave Kyiv and other cities.
Russia’s stated position
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Russian strikes were systematic retaliation for Ukrainian attacks.
Attacks on civilian targets
Ukraine’s account
Zelenskiy said Ukraine would target Russian energy assets but would not strike civilian objects indiscriminately.
Russia’s stated position
Russia characterized its strikes as retaliatory; both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.
Russian activity in Europe
Ukraine’s account
Zelenskiy said Russian drone incursions and hybrid attacks in Europe aimed to intimidate populations and weaken support for Ukraine.
Russia’s stated position
Russia called those accusations baseless and the result of anti-Russian hysteria.
- Refinery attacks
- Zelenskiy said Ukraine would intensify attacks on Russian oil refineries.
- Russian airstrike policy claim
- Zelenskiy said Ukrainian intelligence obtained documents describing a broader range of potential targets, including infrastructure and locations in cities and villages.
- Russia’s stated position
- The Russian Foreign Ministry described Russian strikes as systematic retaliation for Ukrainian attacks.
- Vivaldi counteroffensive
- Zelenskiy said it had recaptured around 140 square kilometres in Donbas and was ongoing.
- Drone defence
- Zelenskiy said aircraft were downing around 60% of Russian jet-powered drones, while supplies of 20 mm ammunition were running low.
- Interceptor drones
- Ukraine was developing five models; tests of two reportedly showed around 30% success.
- Defence-budget gap
- Zelenskiy said Ukraine and European partners had plans to address a $27 billion gap in this year’s defence budget.
- Proposed talks
- The United States proposed resuming technical-level trilateral talks in the UAE, but no exact date or location had been set.
Sources
Ukraine will hit Russian refineries in response to Moscow's 'new doctrine' of airstrikes: Zelenskiy
Russia’s 'New Doctrine' Targets Civilian Sites in Ukraine, Says Zelenskyy
Ukraine will hit Russian refineries in response to Moscow’s ‘new doctrine’ of airstrikes, Zelenskiy says