Russia to Intensify Strikes on Ukraine After Zelensky Interview

By Reuters Oct. 4, 2026 Russia's Defense Ministry said Russian forces would step up attacks on military facilities, defense industry sites and related infrastructure in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine. Gleb Garanich/Reuters Russia will intensify strikes on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday, responding to an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he vowed increased attacks on Russian refineries. The ministry said Russian forces would step up attacks on military facilities, defense industry sites and related infrastructure in Kyiv and elsewhere in Ukraine. Zelensky had told Reuters in an interview published on Saturday that Ukraine will double down on attacking Russian oil refineries in response to a new policy of airstrikes by Moscow designed to force people to abandon Kyiv and other cities, but will not target civilians. Russia has recently escalated strikes on infrastructure in the Ukrainian capital, including hitting bridges across the Dnipro river. The intensifying campaign has seriously disrupted life for the capital's 3 million residents ahead of the bitter winter months. The Russian Defense Ministry said its recent strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions were a response to what it described as attacks by Kyiv on civilian targets inside Russia. Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians. Read more about: Ukraine war , Zelensky , Defense Ministry Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Zelensky Warns Russia Will ‘Wage War’ on NATO Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes Russia is preparing to "wage war" against a weakened NATO should President Donald Trump dilute U.S. support... 2 Min read Russian Attack Helicopter Crashes Near Annexed Crimea While the Defense Ministry named aviation equipment failure as a preliminary cause, prominent pro-war bloggers blamed Russia’s air defense systems. 1 Min read U.S. Announces $1Bln to Aid Ukraine as Russian Strike Kills at Least 17 The strike hit a market in Kostiantynivka, a frontline town of an estimated 70,000 people in the Donetsk region. 4 Min read South Africa's Ramaphosa Tells Putin Ukraine 'War Must Be Settled' His delegation put forward a set of principles that the Kremlin deemed "very difficult to implement." 4 Min read