Zelensky: Putin ordered military to abandon rules of war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Vladimir Putin ordered Russian military leadership to abandon the rules of war, leading to a sharp increase in strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine as Russia seeks battlefield advantage. Zelensky cited intercepted intelligence, saying that after Putin's September directive, Russia intensified air strikes on Kyiv, hitting schools, hospitals, and data centers. He stated the campaign aims to intimidate civilians, force them to flee cities, and weaken Ukraine's ability to continue fighting. Russia is preparing to escalate attacks on major cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa to isolate them before winter, according to Ukrainian officials. Moscow denies targeting civilian infrastructure, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted Russian forces do not strike schools or hospitals.