DOMINANT ANGLE
Bucharest is deciphering an infrastructure war: the bridges of Kiev and the Russian ultimatum to foreigners on one side, the targeted Russian refineries on the other, with an eye on the Romanian assets of Lukoil.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
On Saturday, October 3, the Russian Foreign Ministry again called on diplomats and foreigners to leave Kiev, promising "massive retaliatory attacks" (AFP via Digi24 and G4Media).
- 02
Zelensky told Reuters that Ukraine would step up its strikes on Russian refineries in response to a "new doctrine" from Putin, and mentioned around 140 km² retaken in the Donbass (G4Media).
- 03
According to the New York Times as reported by Digi24, US-Russia talks include a multibillion-dollar oil deal involving Lukoil, a group that also holds assets in Romania.
ANALYSIS
Bucharest, October 4, 2026. Romanian media, led by Digi24 and G4Media, are reporting on the escalation around Kiev, framing it as a war on infrastructure, citing dispatches from news agencies (AFP, Reuters, New York Times).
On Saturday, October 3, according to AFP as cited by Digi24 and G4Media, Russia once again called on diplomats and foreigners to leave Kiev. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs is threatening "massive retaliatory attacks" on "Kiev's and other Ukrainian cities' military targets" and adds that those who ignore this warning will be "fully responsible for the consequences". The two outlets note that the capital has been under attack for weeks, with the strikes mainly targeting bridges, causing "major traffic jams".
Digi24 reports on the comments of Mayor Vitali Klitschko, who on Friday described the situation as "extremely dramatic" and stated that Moscow is "devastating" the city by systematically attacking its infrastructure and logistics. Ukrainian authorities are bracing for winter, a period when Russia could heavily target the energy grid, as it did in 2025.
G4Media, citing Mediafax, details an interview given by Volodymyr Zelensky to Reuters. The Ukrainian president claims to have seen intelligence documents showing a "new doctrine" by Vladimir Putin, which would allow for attacks on "infrastructure, logistics, roads, schools, hospitals" to push the population to leave the capital. He announces that Ukraine will intensify its strikes on Russian refineries and mentions a counter-offensive in the Donbass that has allowed for the recapture of around 140 square kilometers. Digi24 recalls that Kiev is already regularly striking refineries and depots, which led to a fuel crisis in Russia this summer.
Digi24 also dedicates an article to a New York Times report: US-Russia discussions on ending the war include a multibillion-dollar oil deal involving Lukoil, which would benefit Middle Eastern businessmen linked to Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. The media outlet highlights to its readers that Lukoil has assets "including in Romania". The article specifies that the deal depends on approval from Washington and the Kremlin.
