Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow’s new doctrine of destroying civilian infrastructure, while the Defense Forces continue their successful “Vivaldi” offensive in the Donbas and eliminate up to 42,000 Russian troops monthly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this in an interview with Reuters, as reported by Zaxid.net and the PromPolitInform portal.
The Head of State emphasized that Kyiv would not agree to territorial compromises regarding the Donbas and warned the US against harboring illusions about Putin’s peaceful intentions. Despite regular attacks on the capital and dwindling air defense ammunition stocks, Ukraine is ramping up domestic production of interceptor drones and preparing to test the FP-9 ballistic missile—capable of reaching Moscow—while also finding a way to fully cover the budget deficit and finance defense procurement through early 2027. On Russian losses
Zelenskyy spoke about Operation “Vivaldi,” during which the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine liberated 140 km².
“‘Vivaldi’ is a very successful operation. It is not yet complete. As of today, approximately 125–140 square kilometers have been de-occupied. Importantly, the number of Russian troops killed and wounded has risen over the last 2–3 months. Since the beginning of the year, they have been suffering 30,000–32,000 casualties per month—21,000–22,000 killed and the rest severely wounded. Now, we are talking about 42,000 casualties per month. Thus, during the offensive, we lost several times fewer people than Russia, even though they are on the defensive. Our military wanted to launch this operation a year ago, but it was not yet sufficiently prepared. Thank God we decided to postpone it a bit; now we have good results and fewer losses,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
On the budget deficit, reforms, and EU financial aid
According to Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian government has found a way to cover a massive $27 billion budget gap.
“Over these past months, we have been working on our financial deficit. We will close the existing gap by the end of the year. We still have some issues to work on, but we will close this gap. I believe this is a major victory for our country, our team, and the EU. It was not easy.” “We have been working with our budget and our partners—specifically the EU—and we will also try to partially utilize loan funds for the coming year. We will push this timeline closer to January and use those funds to order drones for January and February 2027. My team has returned from Brussels and reported the results. It is working well. I hope things proceed exactly that way,” the President says.
On ending the war
“I believe the US genuinely wants to stop Russia’s war. I trust them. At the same time, I understand it is difficult to stop someone who is powerful and has no desire to stop. That is why attempts are made to find compromises with Russia. But I think we are wasting time if we want to play games with Russian compromises,” the President stated.
“Because if Putin sees that you might agree to something, he will try to offer a different idea, raise other issues, and set new conditions. A new government means new conditions. European leaders change? New conditions. US policy? President Trump appears—a very strong figure—and there are new conditions. He tries to be very polite. Right now, the United States faces a challenge in the Middle East—negotiations with Iran. You will see new conditions from Russia. President Trump wants a victory of some kind before the congressional elections. But Putin will do everything to push the Iranians and disrupt the entire situation,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced. “It is the same with Russia’s war against Ukraine. If Putin sees that President Trump needs a victory of some kind, he will decide what to give and what not to give. And that is the problem—Putin has started to think that *he* is the one who gets to decide. But America is a hundred times stronger than Russia. Absolutely. They simply need to remember that,” the head of state emphasized.
On the meeting with Putin
Zelenskyy stated that he would be happy to meet Putin for peace talks at the G20 summit, but warned the US against harboring “illusions” that Russia would halt hostilities if it gained control over the Donbas.
“It is unfair to simply normalize everything just like that,” said Zelenskyy, dressed in his signature black T-shirt and a military-style jacket. According to him, any restoration of economic and diplomatic ties with the West must occur only in response to peace: “Because peace is more important than any economy,” Zelenskyy says.
Russia’s new doctrine, strikes on civilians, and Ukraine’s response
Ukraine will intensify strikes on Russian oil refineries in response to Moscow’s new air-strike tactics—which are designed to force people to flee Kyiv and other cities—but it will not strike civilian targets.
“We have to react in any “…by whatever means possible. We must respond to their attacks on our energy infrastructure by striking theirs. Primarily oil refineries—after all, they are what fund this war. But, of course, unlike them, we will not strike civilian targets,” the President stated.
Air Defense and Domestic Weapons
Russia has stockpiled hundreds of ballistic missiles for attacks on the energy sector and is launching jet-powered Shahed drones. Ukraine shoots down about 60% of them using F-16 and MiG fighter jets, but stocks of 20mm aircraft ammunition are running low. Kyiv expects new small air-defense missiles in the second half of October and is developing five models of interceptor drones (tests of two showed a ~30% success rate). The Ukrainian FP-7 ballistic missile, with a range of 250 km, has also seen its first combat use.
Zelenskyy stated that he called the manufacturer, Fire Point, to urge management to fast-track the development of the longer-range FP-9 model, which the company claims is capable of striking Moscow.
“I asked them: ‘Where is my FP-9? We need the FP-9.’ And the FP-9 will be ready this autumn, I am certain,” the President assured.
