At least 14 people have been reported killed and 97 injured, Ukraine’s Emergency Services said in an update on Monday night, after Russia launched a massive wave of strikes against Ukrainian cities. Many of the sites hit by cruise missiles and kamikaze drones during the morning rush hour appeared to be just civilian sites or key pieces of infrastructure, apparently chosen to terrorize Ukrainians.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the wave of strikes in Ukraine was in response to the attack on the Kerch bridge linking Russia and Crimea. The Russian leader warned of “even more severe retaliation” in case of further attacks by Ukraine. “Let there be no doubt,” Putin said in televised remarks to his security council, “if the attempted terrorist attacks continue, Russia’s response will be severe.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country was “dealing with terrorists” and accused Russia of targeting electrical and civilian facilities after the missile attacks. “They deliberately chose this moment, these targets, to cause as much harm as possible,” the Ukrainian leader said.
US President Joe Biden said the US “strongly condemns” Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, which demonstrate Putin’s “absolute brutality” against the Ukrainian people. In a separate statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the international community “has a responsibility” to make clear that Putin’s actions are “completely unacceptable”.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply shocked” by the Russian airstrikes. This morning’s attacks “constitute another unacceptable escalation of the war and, as always, civilians are paying the highest price,” said UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
The United Nations General Assembly voted to reject Russia’s call for the 193-member body to hold a secret vote later this week on whether to condemn Moscow’s decision to annex four partially occupied regions from Ukraine The assembly decided, by 107 votes in favor, that it would hold a public vote, not a secret vote, on a draft resolution condemning Russia’s “so-called illegal referendums” and the “illegal annexation attempt” legal”. Diplomats said a vote on the resolution would likely be on Wednesday or Thursday.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia’s “horrific and indiscriminate” missile attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “shocked and appalled”. His counterpart at the European Council, Charles Michel, unequivocally labeled Russia’s actions as war crimes.
Group of Seven members and Zelenskiy will hold emergency talks on Tuesday, a German government spokesman has confirmed. Zelenskiy confirmed he would address G7 leaders, adding that he had spoken to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about increased pressure on Russia and aid to Ukraine.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Belarus and Russia would deploy a joint military task force to the country’s western borders in response to what he called an escalation of tension. The two countries had begun to gather forces two days ago, apparently after the explosion at Russia’s bridge in Crimea, Lukashenko said. Poland has issued guidance advising its citizens in Belarus to leave the country.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has been included in a wanted list drawn up by Ukrainian security officials. A statement issued by Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, said Medvedev, now Russia’s deputy head of security, was wanted under a section of the criminal code dealing with attempts to undermine Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the inviolability of its borders. Most of the members of the Russian Security Council are on the list.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has confirmed that its teams have stopped their field work in Ukraine for security reasons. The Norwegian Refugee Council has also said it has halted its aid operations in Ukraine until it can safely resume. “Our aid workers are hiding from a barrage of bombs and for fear of repeated attacks,” he said.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan will visit Moscow on Tuesday to meet with Putin, UAE state media reported. Mohamed will “discuss with President Putin the friendly relations between the UAE and Russia along with a number of regional and international issues and developments of common interest,” the UAE’s state news agency WAM said.
Putin could meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a summit in Kazakhstan this week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was “possible” the pair could discuss a Turkish proposal to host talks between Russia and the West on Ukraine.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine “counts on British leadership” after a phone call with British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Monday. Zelenskiy’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said he also spoke with his UK counterpart, James Cleverly, who assured him of the UK’s unwavering support for Ukraine.
The European Union has announced that it will extend a bloc-wide protection scheme for Ukrainian refugees until 2024. EU Ukrainians who decide to return to their country will still be able to maintain their refugee status, as long as they notify the relevant country . of his passage, according to the Commissioner for Internal Affairs of the EU, Ylva Johansson.