Russia’s ‘new doctrine’ targets civilian sites in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says

According to Al Jazeera, Zelenskyy said Moscow aims to "pressure people to leave the [Ukrainian] capital, leave different cities"[1].CNBC reports that Zelenskyy said Putin's desire to appear strong at a time when his military was losing ground in a key frontline region and sustaining higher levels of casualties[2] was behind the shift.According to CNBC, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would respond by hitting Russian energy, starting with "oil refiners etc: what gives money to them for this war"[2]. He added, CNBC reports: "But we will not respond, of course, just like them, on any civilian objects."[2]CNBC reports that the Kremlin was not available to comment on Saturday.[2] According to the same report, in a statement urging foreign nationals to leave Kyiv, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would continue to systematically hit targets[2] as what it called retaliation, and both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.[2]The Irish Times reports that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "Russia's armed forces do not strike schools or hospitals."[3]According to Al Jazeera, at least five people have been killed in a series of long-range strikes carried out by Kyiv and Moscow[1]. Al Jazeera also reports that a Russian attack on Kyiv's Northern Bridge meanwhile injured two people.[1]TVP World reports that Zelenskyy said he had received no indications from Russia that Putin was interested in peace talks, or discussing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure.[4]