Russia’s Security Council has reportedly lifted an unofficial ban on targeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and senior military commanders following a high-level meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin, according to several pro-Kremlin media outlets.
The reported decision was prompted by repeated Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Baltic Sea oil export hub, including the 10th recent strike on the strategic port of Ust-Luga near St Petersburg, Bloknot reported.
Ust-Luga is a major export route for Russian oil, allowing Moscow to transport supplies to Asian markets while circumventing international sanctions. The port has also played an important role in generating revenue to finance Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The attacks were also reportedly considered particularly significant because St Petersburg is Putin’s hometown.
Russia faces mounting defence costs
During a closed-door meeting on Thursday, Russian security officials reportedly warned that the country was running out of funds to defend against Ukrainian drone attacks, while Moscow’s strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure had failed to deter Kyiv.
The Leningrad region, where St Petersburg is located, has reportedly spent 24 billion rubles (about US$300 million) on air defence systems.
One Russian official was quoted as saying it was ‘pointless to fight the endless swarm of drones’ and that Russia needed to destroy the ‘very chain of decision-making’ behind the attacks.
Citing senior government sources, the reports said security officials had discussed eliminating Ukraine’s current leadership, including Zelensky.
A Russian source reportedly argued that attacks on Ukrainian heating infrastructure had failed to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries because those responsible for ordering the attacks felt protected by Moscow’s unspoken ‘gentlemen’s agreements’ with Western countries.
Hypersonic weapons reportedly considered
Russian officials are reportedly considering using heavy hypersonic weapons to target bunkers and motorcades transporting Zelensky, other Ukrainian leaders and senior military commanders.
The Kremlin had previously attempted to assassinate Zelensky during the early stages of the war in 2022. Those attempts reportedly ended the following year after Putin gave assurances through mediators that the Ukrainian president would not be targeted.
The reported Security Council meeting took place shortly after Putin’s two-hour discussion with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is also US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
The meeting also included members of Russia’s negotiating team, who had recently returned from peace talks in Abu Dhabi, as well as representatives from the Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry.
