Ukraine Vows Increased Refinery Strikes Amid Russian Civilian Infrastructure Campaign, Donbas Gains Reported
Kyiv announced it will escalate attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow's new doctrine of striking civilian targets, as Russia launched over 100 drones at Ukraine.
The day on the war
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine will intensify its attacks on Russian oil refineries. This policy shift comes in response to what Zelenskyy described as a "new doctrine" by Moscow, involving military attacks on a broader range of civilian targets, including infrastructure, logistics, roads, schools, and hospitals, aimed at pressuring people to evacuate cities ahead of winter.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine would target Russian energy infrastructure, specifically oil refiners, to cut funding for the war, but would not target civilian objects. This announcement follows an overnight drone barrage by Russia, which saw over 100 drones, nearly half of them jet-powered, strike Kyiv and eight other regions, resulting in one fatality and at least four injuries in Kyiv. Separately, Zelenskyy also claimed that a Ukrainian counteroffensive, code-named "Vivaldi," has recaptured approximately 140 square kilometers of territory in the eastern Donbas region.
Along the front
Donbas
Development: Ukrainian forces, in a counteroffensive dubbed 'Vivaldi,' recaptured approximately 140 square kilometers of territory.
Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Strikes & the grid
Kyiv and eight other regions, Ukraine
What: Russia launched over 100 drones, nearly half jet-powered, at various targets. One drone struck a high-rise apartment building in Kyiv.
Toll: One person killed and at least four injured in Kyiv.
Russian regions, occupied Crimea, Sea of Azov, Black Sea
What: Russian air defenses shot down 646 Ukrainian drones.
Toll: One person injured in Russia's Volgograd region.
Diplomacy & talks
US-Russia Peace Negotiations. The New York Times reported that US peace negotiations with the Kremlin have expanded to include discussions of a multi-billion dollar oil deal involving assets of Russian oil company Lukoil, requiring approval from both the US government and the Kremlin.
Ukraine-US Relations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Washington not to normalize relations with Russia before ensuring a return to peace, following reports of the Trump administration discussing a G20 summit and business deals with Russian envoys.
What we'll be watching next 72h
- Ukraine is expected to increase its attacks on Russian oil refineries, as stated by President Zelenskyy.
- Russia has issued a warning to diplomats and foreigners to leave Kyiv, indicating potential for further "massive" air attacks on the capital.
- Observers will monitor the impact of intensifying Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure as winter approaches.
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.