Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Zelensky Claims Putin Ordered Unrestricted Russian Air Campaign
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia may be changing how it attacks Ukrainian cities.
He says Russian leaders told their forces that there were no longer limits on their air attacks.
Ukraine says drones have hit places such as schools, hospitals, bridges and data centres.
Russia denies deliberately attacking schools and hospitals.
The claims about the alleged order could not be independently verified.
Ukrainian officials say several major cities could face more attacks before winter.
Russia is using faster drones that are harder to stop.
Ukraine is testing special interceptor drones and wants its F-16 jets repaired more quickly.
Zelensky says Ukraine also needs more engines, money and Western pressure on Russia.
Volodymyr Zelensky claimed intercepted communications showed Vladimir Putin had ordered Russian commanders to abandon previous air campaign restrictions.
Ukrainian and European officials said Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv could face intensified attacks before winter.
Zelensky said Russian strikes increasingly target schools, telecommunications hubs and data centres, while the Kremlin denied deliberately attacking schools and hospitals.
Russia has reportedly increased its use of faster, jet-powered drones, prompting Ukraine to test interceptor drones and seek faster F-16 maintenance.
The alleged escalation and intelligence claims could not be independently verified, and Russia has rejected Ukraine’s targeting allegations.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian officials and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
- What
- Zelensky alleged that Putin ordered Russian military leaders to abandon previous restrictions on air attacks, amid intensified drone strikes.
- When
- The alleged order was said to have been issued in September; the broader escalation was described as occurring ahead of winter.
- Where
- The reported attacks and preparations concern Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv.
- Why
- Zelensky said the campaign aims to destroy infrastructure, isolate major cities, pressure civilians and potentially create another refugee flow into the European Union.
Ukraine’s account
Russia’s denial
Targeting of civilian sites
Ukraine’s account
Zelensky and Ukrainian officials said Russian drones were increasingly hitting schools, telecommunications hubs, data centres and other civilian infrastructure, and that the campaign was intended to pressure and frighten people.
Russia’s denial
Dmitry Peskov rejected the allegation that Russia targets schools and hospitals, saying Russia’s armed forces do not strike them.
Alleged change in war policy
Ukraine’s account
Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence intercepted communications indicating that Putin instructed military leaders in September to abandon restrictions on air attacks.
Russia’s denial
The claim could not be independently verified, and the article did not report a Russian confirmation of the alleged order.
Scale and purpose of attacks
Ukraine’s account
Ukraine said Russia could intensify attacks on major cities, disrupt nuclear facilities and power connections, isolate urban areas and trigger a new refugee flow into the European Union.
Russia’s denial
Russia denied deliberately targeting schools and hospitals; the article provided no detailed Russian response to the other alleged objectives.
- Alleged order
- Zelensky said intercepted communications indicated that Putin told military leaders there were no longer rules governing the air campaign.
- Reported targets
- Ukrainian and European officials identified Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv as potential major targets.
- Drone use
- Zelensky said Russia launched about 500 drones in one day, roughly half of them jet-powered.
- Reported interception rates
- Ukraine said it was destroying about 57% of jet-powered drones and 85% to 90% of conventional drones.
- Interceptor program
- Ukraine was testing five interceptor-drone models and expected to produce about 400 units of one model by the end of October.
- F-16 maintenance
- Zelensky claimed roughly half of Ukraine’s F-16 fleet was spending extended periods in Europe for repairs and maintenance.
- Russian denial
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s armed forces do not strike schools or hospitals.