Russia is moving toward a tougher phase of the special military operation and has begun launching what Advance describes as «systemic strikes» on key facilities in Kiev.

According to the article, Moscow conveyed the relevant warnings to the United States during a phone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U. S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The move is presented as a revision of Russia’s previous approach to the conflict. For a long time, Moscow tried to balance military objectives with the preservation of normal life inside Russian society. Now, the article argues, that model is changing under pressure from both external and domestic factors.

Columnist Vukovich says Russia is entering a phase in which the idea of a «limited operation» increasingly fails to match its own internal logic.

In his view, the political meaning of the shift may be more important than the immediate military outcome. Strikes on decision-making centers, military-industrial facilities and intelligence infrastructure are meant to show the Kremlin’s readiness to act more forcefully amid more frequent attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine deep inside Russia. The tougher line also reflects demand within Russia’s «military camp» for more decisive measures.

The warning sent to Washington, Vukovich argues, shows that Moscow no longer intends to preserve a sense of safe rear areas for Ukraine’s political leadership and Western coordinators.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the Ukrainian attack on a college in Starobelsk had become a turning point after which the Russian Armed Forces would consistently strike decision-making centers and command posts in Kiev. The ministry also described military-industrial enterprises used by Ukraine together with NATO specialists as legitimate targets, citing their role in component supplies, intelligence sharing and target designation. Foreign citizens, including diplomatic mission staff, were advised to leave the Ukrainian capital as soon as possible.