Russia’s Security Council has reportedly dropped an unofficial ban on killing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his senior generals. The decision allegedly came at a closed meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to several pro-Kremlin news outlets. The claims have not been independently confirmed.
Pro-Kremlin outlets say the meeting took place on Thursday. According to the New York Post, one of them, Bloknot, reported that repeated Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s oil export hub on the Baltic Sea pushed officials toward the decision. The port of Ust-Luga, near St. Petersburg, has been hit 10 times recently.
The reports cite senior government sources, and no Russian official has been named.
Why Ust-Luga matters
Ust-Luga is a major route for sending Russian oil to Asia. It has helped Moscow get around international sanctions and pay for the war in Ukraine.
The location adds to the sting. St. Petersburg is Putin’s hometown, so the attacks are landing deep inside his home territory.
Money and air defense
Officials at the meeting reportedly warned that Russia is running short of money to defend against Ukrainian drones. They also said Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure are no longer scaring Kyiv into holding back.
The Leningrad region, which includes St. Petersburg, has reportedly spent 24 billion rubles on air defense systems. That is close to $300 million.
One Russian official was quoted as saying it is pointless to fight an endless swarm of drones and that the chain of decision-making itself must be destroyed. A Russian source added that attacking Ukraine’s heating does not stop strikes on Russian refineries. In this source’s view, Ukraine’s leaders feel safe because of unspoken “gentlemen’s agreements” between Moscow and the West.
The options discussed
Security officials reportedly decided they would rather remove the current Ukrainian leadership, Zelensky included. They allegedly talked about using heavy hypersonic weapons against bunkers and motorcades carrying Ukrainian leaders and top army commanders.
Timing of the meeting
The meeting reportedly came right after Putin held a two-hour conversation with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is President Trump’s son-in-law. Members of Russia’s negotiating team, which had just come back from peace talks in Abu Dhabi, were also there. So were representatives of the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defense, along with Security Council members.
