President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) obtained Russian documents containing target lists of what Moscow describes as “decision-making centers.”
According to Zelensky, the alleged targets include nearly two dozen political centers and military command posts.
“Specialists from the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine obtained documents indicating that the Russians are preparing new missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, including, as they describe them, against ‘decision-making centers,’” Zelensky said in a social media update.
“Among these are nearly two dozen political centers and military command posts. Of course, we have taken this information into account,” he added.
Images attached to his update appeared to show satellite photographs allegedly obtained by Ukrainian intelligence from Russian military offices. The images included coordinates and information about several locations, including the Office of the President of Ukraine, the presidential residence and underground protected facilities in central Kyiv. The images were dated May 6.
Russia’s state television previously broadcast similar images ahead of its May 9 parade, saying Moscow could retaliate against those targets should its parade be disrupted during its unilateral ceasefire.
Kyiv eventually agreed to the ceasefire, though both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of violations during the three-day truce. However, no attacks took place against the parade.
On Friday, Zelensky also said Ukraine’s defense differs fundamentally from Russia’s system of power.
“But it is worth emphasizing specifically for the Russian leadership that Ukraine is – after all – not Russia,” he said. “And unlike the aggressor state, where there is a clear author of this war and a long-standing circle around him that sustains his detachment from reality, the source of Ukraine’s defense is the readiness of the Ukrainian people to fight for their independence and for their own sovereign state.”
Zelensky also announced work on what he described as “long-range sanctions” against Russia in response to recent attacks on Ukrainian cities.
“Ukraine will not leave without consequences any of the strikes that take the lives of our people,” Zelensky wrote.
On Friday, 24 people, including three children, were confirmed killed in Russia’s Thursday attack on Kyiv after rescuers concluded the rescue operation at a destroyed residential building in the capital’s Darnytskyi district. Zelensky had vowed for a response following the attack.