'Everything' in Ukraine is now a target for Putin, says EPP MEP

The article says Russia is increasingly striking residential areas, cultural sites, and government buildings in Ukraine. This marks a broadening of targets beyond military positions, according to EPP MEP Pekka Toveri. He believes Russia has “taken all the rules off” the table, raising fears for civilians and public life.

Toveri warns that attacks could leave large parts of Kyiv uninhabitable during winter. That warning shows how residential strikes could threaten ordinary households, while cultural and government attacks could disrupt public life. The article does not name a specific building or describe the exact attack methods.

At present, the warning comes from a former Finnish army general serving as an EPP lawmaker. He also says Russia’s main weakness is its ground campaign, claiming Moscow has conquered little during the war. The reported pattern makes continued European support, gas cuts, and tighter sanctions part of his response.

An EPP MEP is a member of the European Parliament who belongs to the European People’s Party group. MEPs represent voters, help shape EU decisions, and promote their group’s political priorities.

Pekka Toveri is a Finnish EPP MEP and former army general. In the article, he warns that Russia is increasingly attacking homes, cultural sites, and government buildings. He urges the European Union to keep supporting Ukraine, stop buying Russian gas, and strengthen sanctions.

Toveri also highlights what he sees as Russia’s main weakness: its ground campaign. He says Moscow has been unable to “conquer basically anything” during the war. He warns that continued strikes could make large parts of Kyiv uninhabitable during winter, giving his parliamentary advocacy direct security and humanitarian importance.

Kyiv is Ukraine’s capital, covering about 839 square kilometres and home to roughly 3 million residents. The article warns that winter attacks could make large areas “uninhabitable.”

EPP MEP Pekka Toveri says Russia is increasingly striking residential, cultural, and government buildings. If homes and essential services become unsafe, affected residents may need to leave, creating a humanitarian crisis in the capital.

The phrase “large parts” has no precise boundary, so no exact total can be calculated. As a scale guide, 10% of Kyiv would represent about 84 square kilometres and roughly 300,000 residents; half would approach 1.5 million people. These are approximate city estimates, and wartime population shifts could change them.

Attacks on homes and essential infrastructure can remove the basics needed to survive winter: heat, electricity, water, and shelter. In Kyiv, freezing conditions could make ordinary disruptions far more dangerous, especially for residents unable to leave.

Finnish former army general and EPP MEP Pekka Toveri says Russia increasingly targets residential, cultural, and government buildings. He warns these attacks could leave large parts of Kyiv “uninhabitable” during winter. Damage to power or heating systems can affect whole neighborhoods, not just one building.

The article gives no exact estimate of damaged networks or displaced residents. However, its warning is clear: continued attacks could turn housing and public services into a survival crisis, not merely a security problem. Protecting infrastructure and maintaining support for Ukraine would be crucial as winter approaches.

A ground campaign is the part of a war fought on land by soldiers, tanks, and other forces. Its purpose is to capture and hold territory. Armies must push through defenses and maintain control. Success means gaining land, not merely damaging targets from the air.

In this case, Toveri says Russia’s ground offensive is its main military weakness because Moscow has made little territorial progress. He says Russia has been unable to “conquer basically anything.” Its attacks increasingly target residential, cultural, and government buildings, but such strikes do not automatically provide lasting control of Ukrainian land.

The article warns that attacks could leave large parts of Kyiv “uninhabitable” during winter, creating severe humanitarian danger. Still, Toveri says damaging a city differs from winning the ground war. He urges the EU to support Ukraine, stop buying Russian gas, and tighten sanctions against Moscow.

Continued EU support could make Russia’s war more expensive and harder to sustain. Military aid would strengthen Ukraine, while sanctions and reduced gas purchases would restrict money and supplies reaching Moscow.

The source highlights Russia’s ground weakness: Toveri says Moscow has been unable to “conquer basically anything.” At the same time, Russia is increasingly targeting homes, cultural sites, and government buildings, according to Toveri. Better Ukrainian defenses could blunt those attacks, while economic pressure could reduce Russia’s ability to replace equipment and fund operations.

The article gives no figures showing exactly how much these measures have already reduced Russia’s capacity. However, Toveri argues that Europe should maintain support, end Russian gas purchases, and tighten sanctions. Together, those steps could prolong Ukraine’s ability to resist and raise the cost of continuing the invasion.

International humanitarian law requires parties to distinguish fighters and military objects from civilians and civilian buildings. Attacks may target only military objectives, and expected civilian harm cannot be excessive compared with anticipated military advantage. Parties must take precautions, cancel disproportionate attacks, and never deliberately target civilians.

In Ukraine, Pekka Toveri says Russia increasingly targets residential areas, cultural sites, and government buildings. Such places are protected unless they make an effective contribution to military action, and attacking them requires verifying the target and taking feasible precautions. Claims about a strike therefore require evidence about the target, expected harm, and precautions.

The article warns attacks could leave large parts of Kyiv uninhabitable during winter. That would intensify civilian risks, even when a nearby military objective exists. International law does not ban every civilian death, but forbids deliberate attacks on civilians and indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks. Toveri also says Russia has been unable to “conquer basically anything” through its ground campaign.