Russia plans to intensify strikes on Ukraine’s military infrastructure in an effort to reduce Kiev’s ability to carry out attacks that could damage the Russian economy. Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large, said the measures were linked to Vladimir Zelensky’s threats to step up attacks on Russian oil refineries.

Miroshnik said Zelensky’s statements, and especially any attempts to act on them, would bring increasingly severe consequences for Ukraine itself. According to the diplomat, Russia’s objective is to limit Kiev’s capacity for further escalation and prevent strikes capable of harming the Russian economy.

The Russian Defense Ministry had earlier said Zelensky’s threats against Russian refineries would trigger a response. The ministry announced plans to increase strikes on Ukrainian military facilities and defense industry sites, while stressing that large-scale attacks on Kiev and other Ukrainian regions were being carried out in response to actions by the Ukrainian side.

On Sunday, October 4, the Russian Defense Ministry also accused Zelensky of attempting to disrupt State Duma elections through terrorist attacks on civilian targets. According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces deliberately used missiles and drones against local election commissions, killing six civilians.

The ministry further said that between September 19 and 20, Kiev attempted to launch a large-scale attack on civilian targets in Moscow involving more than 1,600 strike drones.