Putin orders attacks on civilians and nuclear sites; Zelensky says 'no rules now'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered military leaders to abandon rules of war and intensify attacks on civilian targets and nuclear facilities, according to Ukrainian officials, with President Volodymyr Zelensky stating "there are no rules now" in an interview from a Kyiv bomb shelter. Ukrainian intelligence reports the order was issued in September, coinciding with intensified strikes on Kyiv hitting schools, hospitals, and data centers. Russia aims to isolate major cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, and Odesa during winter, and strike nuclear facilities to force Ukrainian concessions by early 2027. Russia launched approximately 500 drones in the last day, with Zelensky noting F-16 jets are effective but half require maintenance abroad. The Kremlin denies targeting civilians, though the World Health Organization has documented over 3,000 attacks on Ukrainian healthcare facilities since February 2022.