Zelenskiy says Putin ordered military to abandon rules of war in September

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said intelligence shows Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military leaders to abandon the rules of war in September, leading to increased strikes on civilian targets like schools, hospitals, and data centres. Speaking from a bombed school in Kyiv, Zelenskiy cited intercepted communications indicating Putin declared "there are no rules now." The intensified air campaign follows Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and ports, while Russia has launched about 500 drones in the past day, with Ukraine intercepting roughly 57 per cent of jet-powered drones. Russia denies targeting civilian sites, though evidence including drone debris with Russian markings contradicts this. Ukraine has documented over 4,700 attacks on educational institutions since 2022. Zelenskiy said the strikes aim to frighten civilians and weaken Ukraine's war effort, while Kyiv faces air defence shortages and maintenance delays for F-16 jets.