KYIV (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Russia still has the potential to use precision-guided weapons on a large scale, as evidenced by its attacks on many important Ukrainian cities.
Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 83 missiles, of which over 43 were shot down by air defences. He said that the missiles were fired from the Caspian and Black Seas and included the Kalibr, Iskander, and Kh-101.
Attacks by TU-93 bombers from as far away as the Caspian Sea, at a distance of almost 900km (560 miles), have been made on Lviv in the west and Odesa in the south this year.
The Ukrainian military claims that numerous Tu-23 M3 bombers and Su-35 attack aircraft- each releasing air-launched cruise missiles were responsible for this past weekend’s missile assaults on Zaporizhzhya.
The surge of attacks will prompt more requests for modern Western missile defences in Ukraine.
The Pentagon said that Ukraine would get the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) by the end of November.
Putin issues a further warning after confirming Russian strikes
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has confirmed the morning’s strikes on a number of Ukrainian targets.
He claims that long-range missiles target military, energy, and communications facilities in a video address.
Putin pledges a “harsh” retaliation for any such “terrorist” activities committed on Russian soil.
The Russian president is scheduled to meet with his security council today to address the explosion that occurred over the weekend on a bridge connecting Russia and Crimea, which he has blamed on Ukraine.
What led up to today’s attacks?
If you’re just getting caught up, the following is a summary of what occurred in Ukraine during the weekend before Russia’s strikes:
Saturday
- An explosion early in the morning severely damaged the only bridge connecting Russia with the seized Crimea.
- Russian investigators claim that three died in the explosion.
- The bridge is a significant symbolism of Russia’s invasion of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. The pieces of the bridge’s car section collapsed into the Black Sea.
- Light vehicle traffic and some trains will be permitted to cross the bridge later in the day thanks to the start of the bridge restoration work.
- Despite the fact that Ukraine has not admitted responsibility for the explosion, some political and military leaders have made scathing remarks about it on social media.
Sunday
- Following the explosion, Zaporizhzhia was attacked with more missiles resulting in at least 13 deaths in the city’s southeast.
- President Vladimir Putin has directed the Federal Security Service (FSB) to oversee the crucial crossing to the seized peninsula, further strengthening Russian security around the bridge.
- Later, Putin called the attack on the bridge a “act of terrorism” and accused Ukraine’s security forces of attacking the bridge.
European politicians respond to the “barbarism” of Russia
Reaction has poured in from all over Europe in the hours since the Russian military started attacking cities in and surrounding Ukraine.
Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, and Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, have spoken on the phone in an emergency.
The Elysée Palace said that Macron reiterated his support for Ukraine and expressed “extreme concern” about reports of civilian casualties.
A German government spokesperson has verified that Zelensky has also spoken with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who assured him of assistance from Berlin and the other G7 nations.
Zbigniew Rau, the foreign minister of Poland, referred to the missile strikes as “an act of barbarism and a war crime”, he continued, adding, “Russia cannot win this war.
UK Foreign Minister James Cleverly, who echoed same sentiments said that Russian attacks on civilian leaders were “unacceptable” and “demonstration of weakness by [President Vladimir] Putin, not strength,”Â
Moldova’s foreign minister, the country shares the border with west Ukraine and has its own territory occupied by Russia (Transnistria) stated that several Russian cruise missiles aimed at Ukraine had passed by its airspace.Â
Nicu Popescu revealed that Moldova summoned Moscow’s representative to the nation to request an explanation for the transgression.
