Vladimir Putin gave his military commanders a direct order stating that 'there are no rules now' in the conflict with Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Financial Times. The Ukrainian leader claims that the Russian president specifically instructed generals to abandon the rules of war during the conduct of military operations.

The reports come as Ukraine continues to accuse the Kremlin of systematically violating international protocols. The disclosure by Zelenskyy indicates that constraints on how Russian forces engage in the war have been formally lifted by the head of the Russian state.