Russia plans to intensify attacks on Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa to isolate them in winter, FT says

What Happened

Financial Times reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered in September the removal of restrictions that had governed previous aerial campaigns, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who cited intercepted communications between Kremlin officials. Zelenskyy and Ukrainian and European officials familiar with intelligence data told FT that Russia is preparing to intensify attacks on Kyiv, the eastern stronghold of Kharkiv and the southern port city of Odesa, with the aim of isolating them from the rest of Ukraine as winter sets in. Lviv, an important logistics hub near the Polish border, also features in Russia's plans, according to these officials. Ukrainian officials said Moscow intends to strike nuclear facilities in order to disconnect them from the power grid, and that an approved Russian plan reportedly intercepted by Ukraine involves hitting targets within one kilometre of nuclear power plants and launching large-scale attacks on water supply systems. Zelenskyy said the aim of the attacks is not only to destroy infrastructure but also to pressure people, frighten civilians, force them to leave cities and weaken Ukraine's ability to continue the war.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

If the reported plans materialise, intensified winter strikes on Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv could cut major urban centres off from power, water and logistics, while attacks near nuclear plants risk grid disconnection and radiological safety. The stated Russian aim, as described by officials, is to pressure Kyiv into accepting Russian demands by early 2027 and to generate a new wave of Ukrainian refugees into the EU, where anti-immigration sentiment is rising. The shift to unrestricted targeting of civilian infrastructure, if verified, would mark an escalation in the air war and complicate humanitarian and energy security responses.

Watch For

Monitor Russian airstrikes on Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Lviv as winter sets in, especially any strikes within one kilometre of Ukrainian nuclear power plants or against water supply systems. Watch for Ukrainian, EU and IAEA responses to threats to nuclear facilities, changes in Ukrainian air defence requests, and evidence of population displacement toward EU borders. Also track whether Russia follows through on reported plans to intensify attacks and any Ukrainian or Western assessments of the intercepted plan.