Volodymyr Zelensky says war on Russia is ‘inevitable, natural and absolutely fair’
Hours after Russia reported two Ukrainian drones had crashed into high-rise ministerial offices in Moscow, Zelensky signalled Russia military bases would be targets.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday it was “inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process” that the war was “returning” to Russia.
Hours after Russia reported three Ukrainian drones had been intercepted on the weekend, with two crashing out of control into high-rise ministerial offices in Moscow, Mr Zelensky signalled that symbolic centres and military bases in Russia would be targets.
He told reporters in the western Ukraine city of Ivano-Frankivsk: “Today is the 522nd day of the so-called ‘Special Military Operation’, which the Russian leadership thought would last a couple of weeks. Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia – to its symbolic centres and military bases, and this is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process.”
The recent drone attacks in the centre of Moscow struck the building of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and other Russian government offices.
This fresh development, marking a shift in the Ukraine strategy from fiercely defending its territory from Russia’s invasion to now attacking the Russian capital appears to be part of the Ukraine counteroffensive which has made some inroads in the east of Ukraine in the past few days including the liberation of Staromayorske in Donetsk.
But Mr Zelensky also warned that while “Ukraine is getting stronger”, that Russia would attempt to attack the country’s energy sites once again as winter approaches.
“But we must be aware that, just as last year, Russian terrorists can still attack our energy sector and critical facilities this winter,” Mr Zelensky said. He said that officials were considering “all possible scenarios”.
The supply of crucial NATO and western military resources and aid to Ukraine had been previously predicated on helping Ukraine expel Russia from its territory. NATO had been particularly careful to insist the war shouldn’t be escalated with any attacks inside Russia itself.
However there have been unverified claims some of the weaponry used in the past few days in attacks on Moscow and the contested Crimea area may have been supplied by Western countries.
Ukraine’s western allies haven’t yet commented on this latest Ukraine strategy.
On Sunday evening, Mr Zelensky’s office announced that Ukraine will start negotiations with the United States on security guarantees next week.
“These guarantees are valid until Ukraine acquires NATO membership, which is the most reliable guarantee of security,” the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said.
Previously Ukraine has denied attacking Russia, including back in May when two drones were downed near to the Kremlin. Over the weekend Russia’s defence ministry claimed that Ukraine had launched 25 drones in an assault on Crimea.
On Sunday Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the Ukraine minister for internal affairs, tweeted comments from the Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat saying: “Something is always flying in Russia, including in Moscow. There are those who are not ‘touched’ by the war – they are already affected.”
The hawkish Russian former president Dmitry Medvedev, who is deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council warned the Kremlin would be forced to resort to using a nuclear weapon if Ukraine’s counteroffensive pushed back Russian forces.
“Imagine if the offensive, which is backed by NATO, was a success and they tore off a part of our land, then we would be forced to use a nuclear weapon, according to the rules of a decree from the president of Russia,” he said.
“There would simply be no other option. So our enemies should pray for our warriors. They are making sure that a global nuclear fire is not ignited.”
Over the weekend Mr Putin met with African leaders in St Petersburg and said there could be no ceasefire while the Ukrainian army was on the offensive. On Sunday which was Russia’s navy day, Mr Putin announced an extra 30 war ships.
Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky had been in Donetsk on Saturday to congratulate members of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) for their recent battlefield successes. He said: “What we can talk about now, of course, is participation in key combat operations. Bakhmut in particular, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka. Soledar. Together with everyone, they defended Kyiv and Hostomel, and Bucha, and Irpin, and Moschun, and Makariv. Snake Island – also SOF together with intelligence, together with the Alpha group and the navy. Kinburn Spit. Kherson. Now – the liberation of Staromayorske. This is also a result, in particular, of the SOF. Let every loss of Russia be retribution for its evil, and let every occupier, every Russian murderer, all those responsible for this terror against Ukraine and Ukrainians know – while they are still alive – that justice wins. Ukraine will win. “
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