Russia’s Defense Ministry has responded to Vladimir Zelensky’s statement that Kiev plans to intensify attacks on oil refineries inside Russia in retaliation for strikes on military targets in Ukraine.

The ministry said Russian forces strike only military and defense-industrial facilities, as well as infrastructure used in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It linked the increased intensity of Russian attacks to earlier Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory.

As one example, the ministry pointed to what it described as attempts by the Kiev authorities to disrupt voting in the State Duma elections through attacks on civilian targets. According to the ministry, polling stations were struck, killing six civilians.

The Defense Ministry also said Moscow was targeted in a large-scale attack on September 19–20 involving more than 1,600 Ukrainian strike drones.

Another episode cited by the ministry involved drone attacks that it said were aimed at disrupting an international economic forum in St. Petersburg in June 2026.

The ministry further accused Kiev of striking residential areas of Belgorod during the night of October 4. It said there were no military facilities in the area and reported civilian deaths and injuries, as well as damage to apartment buildings, private homes and personal vehicles.

Following Zelensky’s statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said it would intensify strikes on military and defense-industrial facilities and related infrastructure in Kiev and other regions of Ukraine.

The ministry also placed personal and political responsibility for the consequences of those strikes on Zelensky.