President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Russia’s ultimate goal in the ongoing conflict is not limited to the Donbas region, but is the seizure of the entire Ukrainian state. Zelensky asserted that the Kremlin’s true intentions are to establish control over Ukrainian territories and restore the influence held during the Soviet era, noting that the existence of a strong, independent Ukraine remains a primary problem for Moscow. According to the Ukrainian president, Putin’s recent claims that Ukraine has lost its statehood prove he is not seeking a real peace.
The Ukrainian leader pointed to Vladimir Putin’s October 1 speech at the Valdai Discussion Club as providing “very important answers” for the world, specifically for the United States and European skeptics. Zelensky interpreted Putin’s rhetoric as a confident claim that Ukraine is not an independent state, which serves as a justification for Russia’s actions. He described this confidence as “the weakness of the world.” To support this, Zelensky cited a 2005 statement by Putin describing the collapse of the USSR as the “greatest geopolitical catastrophe” of the 20th century, arguing that this revealed Moscow’s ambition to return the USSR. Zelensky noted that Putin did not describe World War I or II as the 20th century’s primary tragedy, but rather the fall of the Soviet Union.
Escalation and the Removal of Rules
According to Ukrainian intelligence data, Vladimir Putin has ordered his generals to abandon the rules of war, stating that “there are no rules anymore.” Zelensky told the Financial Times that this directive, issued in September, has led to mass strikes on civilian targets in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, and Odesa. This information is based on intelligence including intercepted communications from Kremlin representatives. Recent attacks have hit schools, hospitals, clinics, data centers, and residential buildings, as well as warehouses and the National Academy of Sciences building in Kyiv.
Zelensky noted that while Moscow initially targeted military and energy sites, the strategy has shifted to “massive attacks and mass killings” after failing to occupy the Donbas. This campaign is described as an attempt to intimidate civilians, force them to leave their cities, and undermine Ukraine’s ability to continue the war. Zelensky added that Russia aimed to force people out of the capital to demonstrate that Ukraine cannot exist as a state without its capital, though he emphasized that Ukraine is much more than Kyiv. While Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denies targeting schools or hospitals, FT journalists verified drone debris from a Kyiv school with Russian markings, some of which were manufactured in Russia on July 28.
Infrastructure Targets and Political Timing
Russia has intensified its efforts to paralyze urban life and infrastructure. In Kyiv, attacks have targeted the South Bridge—which the Russian Ministry of Defense claims carries military supplies—causing transport chaos. Ukraine reports plans to isolate nuclear power plants from the energy grid during winter, with damage already reported at the "Kyivska" substation connecting the Rivne NPP to the capital. Two weeks ago, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal showed European partners intelligence regarding Russian plans to isolate the Khmelnytskyi, South Ukraine, and Rivne nuclear power plants from the grid.
Zelensky believes these escalations are timed to coincide with the U.S. midterm elections on November 3. He claims Putin intends to maximize the conflict’s escalation to pressure the U.S., reporting that Kyiv has faced between 300 and 500 attacks daily in recent weeks. Zelensky stated that these attacks aim to stop people from attending work or school and to plunge the country into chaos. He noted that on September 6, he warned a Trump team visiting Kyiv that massive attacks targeting civilians would follow the Russian elections held two weeks prior.
Russia Boosts Defense Spending as Putin Links Attacks to Refinery Strikes
Zelensky warned that Russia’s ambition to restore Soviet-era spheres of influence poses direct risks to other neighbors, including Kazakhstan and the Baltic states.
Putin stated these attacks responded to Ukrainian drones hitting refineries, which he said cost Russia 1% of its GDP, though Bloomberg estimated 39% of refining capacity is currently offline. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Finance has prepared a 2027 budget that reduces spending on healthcare and education to allocate 17 trillion rubles ($204 billion) for defense.
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