Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military leaders to ‘abandon the rules of war’, Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed.
The Russian president has removed restrictions that had been in place for previous aerial bombardments, leading to a sharp rise in long-range drone and missile strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine.
Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence intercepted Kremlin communications where Putin reportedly stated, ‘There are no rules now.’
This order was issued in September, Ukraine’s leader suggested, with Putin allegedly stating ‘there are no rules now’.
His order coincided with Russia’s increased assault on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, Zelensky told the Financial Times.
The Kremlin is now thought to be preparing to intensify its attacks on Ukraine’s largest cities, including its capital Kyiv as well as Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv.
Russia also reportedly intends to strike nuclear facilities to cut them from the energy grid. This would increase pressure on Ukraine to bow to Putin’s demands.
Part of Moscow’s plan is to force Ukrainians fleeing the violence to seek refuge in European countries, where anti-immigrant sentiment is growing, according to officials.
This is in response to Ukraine’s escalating strikes on Russian oil refineries, ports and warehouses, which have fuelled growing anger among civilians as shortages worsen and a heightened sense of insecurity takes hold.
