Zelensky administration advisor Podolyak says Russia has changed tactics in hopes of hastening Ukrainian counteroffensive

The Russian military has changed its approach to missile strikes on Ukraine and is now targeting civilian structures, Ukrainian presidential administration advisor Mykhailo Podolyak said on Monday.

“It’s quite obvious that there’s been a certain shift in tactics. There can be no doubt, because they’re carrying out direct strikes on civilian apartment buildings and areas containing a lot of civilian housing,” RBC Ukraine quoted him as saying.

According to Podolyak, the Russian Defense Ministry aims to achieve several goals with this approach. First, he said, Moscow wants to lead the Ukrainian military to launch a counteroffensive sooner than it otherwise would, leaving it relatively ill-prepared. Secondly, Russia hopes the deaths of Ukrainian civilians will prompt Western countries to demand peace negotiations. And finally, Podolyak said, Russia is trying to determine what areas are uncovered by Ukraine’s air defenses and thus vulnerable to attacks.