Zelensky: Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries and accelerate FP-9 missile ahead of winter air campaign
In a Reuters interview, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries and is preparing the longer-range FP-9 domestic ballistic missile in response to what he described as a new Russian air campaign aimed at forcing Ukrainians to leave Kyiv and other cities. He said Ukrainian intelligence obtained documents indicating Russia is preparing to expand strikes on civilian targets ahead of winter, including infrastructure, roads, schools and hospitals. Zelensky said Ukraine will not follow Russia's example by striking civilian targets indiscriminately, expressed readiness to meet Vladimir Putin at a G20 summit, and called on the United States not to rush normalization with Moscow until peace is established.
Key points
- Zelensky said Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to Russia's new air campaign.
- According to Zelensky, Ukrainian intelligence obtained documents indicating Russia is preparing to expand strikes on civilian targets ahead of winter.
- He said the goal of Russia's campaign is to force people to leave Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
- Zelensky said Ukraine will not strike civilian objects indiscriminately.
- He said he sees no signs that Vladimir Putin is interested in peace talks or in stopping strikes on energy infrastructure.
- Zelensky said he is ready to meet Putin at a G20 summit and called on the United States not to rush normalization of relations with Moscow until peace is established.
- Ukraine used its domestic FP-7 ballistic missile (~250 km range) in combat for the first time this week; Zelensky expects the longer-range FP-9, which Fire Point says can reach Moscow, to be ready this autumn.
Why it matters
The interview signals a possible escalation in long-range strikes deep into Russian territory through the new domestic FP-9 ballistic missile, which Fire Point says can reach Moscow. It sets out Ukraine's retaliatory doctrine — targeting Russian energy infrastructure, particularly oil refineries that generate revenue for the war, while explicitly drawing a line at civilian targets. It also frames the coming winter as a period of intensified Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and major cities, and outlines Ukraine's diplomatic posture: open to a G20 meeting with Putin while urging Washington not to normalize relations with Moscow before peace is achieved. Finally, it points to Ukraine racing to scale up air defense and interceptor-drone production to cope with new Russian drone and missile threats.
What happened
Speaking to Reuters, President Zelensky said Ukraine will step up strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to what he called a new Russian air campaign. He said Ukrainian intelligence had obtained documents indicating Russia is preparing to expand strikes on civilian targets ahead of winter — infrastructure, logistics, roads, schools and hospitals — with the goal of forcing people to leave Kyiv and other cities. He attributed the change in Russian tactics to Putin's desire to appear strong while Russian forces lose positions in Donbas. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine will respond to attacks on its energy infrastructure by striking Russian energy infrastructure, primarily oil refineries, but will not strike civilian objects indiscriminately. He said he sees no sign Putin is willing to negotiate or stop strikes on energy infrastructure, but expressed readiness to meet Putin at a G20 summit, and called on the United States not to rush normalization with Moscow until peace is established. Zelensky added that Ukraine used its domestic FP-7 ballistic missile, with a range of about 250 km, in combat for the first time this week, and that he expects the longer-range FP-9 — which can reach Moscow — to be ready this autumn. He also said Ukrainian F-16s and MiGs are currently shooting down about 60% of Russia's new jet-powered "Shahed" drones, that stocks of 20mm aircraft ammunition are running low, and that Ukraine's "Vivaldi" counteroffensive has returned about 140 square kilometers of territory in eastern Donbas. Ukrainian forces struck oil facilities in Russia's Samara and Volgograd regions.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
All supplied articles are Ukrainian and frame the story consistently. They lead with Zelensky's declaration that Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries and accelerate production of the FP-9 missile. Coverage emphasizes what it describes as a Russian "new doctrine" authorizing strikes on a broader list of civilian targets ahead of winter, and frames the Russian campaign as aimed at forcing Ukrainians to leave Kyiv and other cities. Ukrainian sources foreground Ukraine's retaliatory doctrine and draw a contrast with Russia by stating Ukraine will not strike civilian targets indiscriminately. They also highlight battlefield gains, including the "Vivaldi" counteroffensive returning about 140 square kilometers in eastern Donbas and recent Ukrainian strikes on oil facilities in Russia's Samara and Volgograd regions, while presenting domestic air-defense gaps — low 20mm ammunition stocks, a roughly 60% Shahed intercept rate, and interceptor-drone tests at about 30% success — alongside plans to address them.
Background
Russia's foreign ministry said Moscow would continue systematic strikes on Kyiv, calling it a response to Ukraine's attacks on Russia in recent months; the Kremlin declined to comment to Reuters on Zelensky's statements. The Trump administration invited Putin to a G20 summit in Miami in December and discussed business agreements with Russian representatives. On the Ukrainian side, after negotiations with European partners Ukraine secured funding to purchase needed drones through the beginning of 2027, and Kyiv and its partners are working on a plan to cover a $27 billion defense budget deficit. The first batch of small, inexpensive air-defense missiles capable of shooting down the new jet-powered "Shaheds" is expected in the second half of October.