Russia claims Kyiv hit its air bases, fires more missiles
The Kremlin announced Monday that Ukrainian drones attacked two Russian air bases deep within Russian territory. This was just before Russian forces launched a massive missile barrage in Ukraine, which hit homes and buildings and killed civilians.
An unprecedented attack on Russia caused a significant escalation in the nine-month-old war. It hit an airfield that was home to bombers capable carrying nuclear weapons. Many have taken this to mean that President Vladimir Putin will use every means possible to defend his country.
In retaliation to another bold attack, Russia has been bombarding Ukraine almost every week. The Oct. 8 truck bombing at a bridge that links its mainland with the Crimean Peninsula.
Putin drove a car over the bridge to demonstrate that his country can recover from this embarrassment on Monday. Putin opened the bridge, measuring 19 km (12 miles), in an expensive attempt to consolidate his claim on Crimea which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.
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As winter nears, Moscow used missiles to strike basic services in many Ukrainian regions. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, four people were killed by Monday’s barrage.
The air force of Ukraine claimed that it had destroyed more than 60 missiles. Zelenskyy, who once again displayed defiance, praised workers who tried to restore power.
Zelenskyy stated in his nightly address that every Russian missile that is destroyed is proof of terror’s defeat.
Early indications suggest that Russia fired 38 cruise missiles out of carriers in the Caspian Sea, and the southern Rostov region. It also stated that 22 Kalibr cruise missiles fired from Russia’s Black Sea fleet and long-range fighter jets and guided bombers were involved.
Ukrenergo, the electricity provider, claimed that its facilities were hit. This caused some blackouts. However, the prime minister later stated that only three areas of power facilities were damaged, which is not as extensive as previous attacks.
After receiving air raid warnings, hundreds of people quickly crowded the metro station Zoloti Vorota in the capital of Kyiv. There were no immediate signs that the city or its surrounding area had been attacked.
Ukrainian media reported that there were explosions in Cherkasy and Krivyi Rih, south of Kyiv. Officials claimed that water, electricity, and central heating were all cut in many areas of Odesa.
“The enemy is attacking the territory in Ukraine again with missiles!” Kyrylo Timoshenko, deputy head of Ukraine’s president’s office wrote on Telegram.
The Interior Ministry of Moldova posted on Facebook that border patrol officers found a rocket near Briceni in northern Moldova. This is near the border to Ukraine. The bomb squad was called to the scene. However, it wasn’t immediately clear when or who launched the rocket.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that it had destroyed two drones from Ukraine when it described the attacks on the air base. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that three Russian servicemen died and four were injured by debris. Two aircraft had been slightly damaged.
According to the ministry, the attacks on the Engels base on the Volga River in Saratov and on the Dyagilevo base in Ryazan in western Russia were part Ukraine’s attempts to curb Russia’s long range bomber force.
The Engels base is located over 600 km (more than 390 miles) east the Ukrainian border. It houses the Tu-95 strategic bombers capable of nuclear-capable nuclear strikes and the Tu-160. Dyagilevo is located approximately 500 km (more than 300 miles) northeast from the Ukrainian border. It houses tanker aircraft that are used to refuel other airplanes in flight.
These attacks exposed the vulnerability of Russia’s strategic military sites. This raises questions about their ability to defend themselves against drones.
Although the ministry did not say where the drones were originated, Russian military bloggers claimed that they were likely launched by Ukrainian scouts.
Russian news agencies had previously reported on explosions at both sites. However, they provided slightly different details about the Defense Ministry’s casualties.
The Ukrainian armed forces published a photo claiming to show blood on the snow underneath a military vehicle at an air base. It was not possible to verify the authenticity of this photo.
Mykhailo podolyak, Zelenskyy’s advisor, played Russians over the drone attack against Engels. He did not claim responsibility.
“If anything is launched into the airspace of other countries, sooner or later unknown flying objects return to their departure point,” Podolyak tweeted.
Other developments include Zelenskyy’s report that three rockets struck his hometown of Krivyi Rih, south-central Ukraine. One person was killed and three others were injured. According to the office, one person was killed by S-300 missiles that struck civilian infrastructure in Kupiansk in the northeastern region.
The conflict that started with Russia’s invasion and occupation of Ukraine on February 24th has left millions homeless, injured and killed tens of thousands, and shaken the global economy. It has also driven up the cost and reduced the availability of key Russian exports, such as food, fertilizer, and fuel.
Monday’s new measures, which were part of a wider effort to increase pressure on Moscow for the war, included a $60 per-barrel price limit and a ban of certain types of Russian oil.
The Kremlin rejected this move and Zelenskyy criticized it for being insufficient.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak was charged with energy and warned Sunday that Russia wouldn’t sell oil to any country that would violate the price cap.
Novak stated that oil and oil products will only be sold to countries that are willing to work with us on terms of the market, even if it means we have to decrease output.
Another step taken by the European bloc of 27 countries was Monday’s imposition of an embargo against Russian oil shipping by sea.
Russia is the No. 2 oil producer in the world. Russia, the world’s No. 2 oil producer, depends on oil and gas to support its economy. This is despite being subject to severe international sanctions.
