Speaking from the bomb shelter of a Kyiv school that had just been hit by a Russian drone, Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Financial Times that Vladimir Putin has ordered his commanders to abandon the rules of war.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukrainian intelligence intercepted Kremlin communications showing Putin told his military leadership in September that "there are no rules now," lifting remaining constraints on strikes against civilian targets. He pointed to intensifying attacks on schools, hospitals, data centres and communications hubs — saying the goal is to "put pressure on people" after Russia failed to break through in the Donbas. The FT reported it authenticated social media footage of civilian damage, and its journalists found Russian manufacturer markings on drone debris at the school.
The Kremlin rejects it entirely. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov insists Russian forces do not deliberately strike schools, hospitals or civilian infrastructure. The intercepts themselves have not been released, so Zelenskyy's central claim can't be independently confirmed — but the accusation lands as President Trump weighs whether to arm Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, a decision that would sharply escalate the war.