Putin lifts all restrictions on strikes against Ukraine, Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has ordered the military command to abandon the rules of war and lifted all restrictions on strikes against Ukraine, according to intelligence data obtained by Ukrainian special services. Zelensky told the Financial Times that the order was given in September as Russia intensified air attacks on Kyiv, targeting schools, hospitals, and data centers. He said the strikes aim to pressure civilians and instill fear, noting that Moscow previously focused mainly on energy and military facilities. The Kremlin denies hitting civilian targets, though FT-verified videos and drone debris with Russian markings contradict this. Zelensky said Putin shifted to mass attacks after failing to occupy Donbas territory, while reports indicate Russia plans up to 1,000 missiles and drones against Ukrainian energy infrastructure this winter.