Zelensky: Putin Has Told Army to Stop Holding Back on Strikes Against Civilian Targets
Citing intelligence, Ukraine's president says Russia's leader has ordered unrestricted air strikes on civilian infrastructure. Meanwhile, Ukraine has used its FP-7 missile for the first time, and Russia will raise military spending next year.
The war in Ukraine has entered its 251st week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, citing intelligence information, has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the army to stop refraining from air strikes on civilian targets. These include schools, hospitals and data centres.
According to Zelensky, Moscow aims to destroy roughly 15 gigawatts of Ukraine's energy capacity, which would amount to a complete collapse of the power grid. In recent days, drones have also repeatedly struck bridges in Kyiv. One such hit on 2 October damaged the Southern Bridge; the attack involved a Russian drone fitted with a jet engine.
Ukraine's new missile
Ukraine has for the first time used its own tactical ballistic missile, the FP-7. The first target was not disclosed. Analysts note that the missile's range is for now only 200 kilometres.
Russia's budget
According to a draft state budget obtained by the press, Russia will increase military spending next year while cutting expenditure on education, healthcare and social welfare. The military complex is to receive 17.1 trillion roubles, or 180 billion euros. That is 27% more than originally planned.
