Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Union has condemned Russia’s massive rocket attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine that took place on Monday morning, with the top EU diplomat pledging more military aid to Kiev.
Russia launched a series of long-range attacks against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure on Monday, firing more than 80 cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and rockets, hitting the Kyiv city centre, as well as targets in Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhiya, Lviv and other larger cities.
At least 10 civilians were killed and more than 60 were wounded in the strikes, which mostly seemed to target busy city traffic, residential buildings, parks and tourist attractions. A number of missiles reportedly damaged 11 combined thermal power plants in eight regions, leaving large parts of the country without electricity or hot water for heating.
Speaking on national TV, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he personally ordered the attacks in response to the partial collapse of the Russian Kerch strait bridge, for which his government is blaming “Ukrainian terrorists”. According to Putin, the Monday attacks targeted “military, communication and energy” targets.
“If any further terrorist attacks are made on our territory, the response will be harsh,” pledged Putin, promising that the response would be “on the same level as the threats against Russia”.
Attacks from sea, land and air
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a national address that Ukraine “is dealing with terrorists”, accusing the Russian side of aiming their attacks on two targets – Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and its people. “The time and the targets were chosen precisely to do as much damage as possible”, claimed Zelenskyy.
According to Ukrainian sources, the attacks used a combination of Kh-101 and Kh-505 air-launched cruise missiles, Iskander ballistic missiles, MRLS launched Tornado rockets, submarine-launched Kalibr cruise missiles, and Iranian Shahed drones, which were reportedly launched from Belarus. Ukrainian military claims at least 43 missiles were taken down by the country’s air defences before hitting their intended targets.
Moldavian government called the Russian ambassador for consultations on Monday after it became apparent that at least three Kalibr missiles launched from the Black sea passed through Moldavan airspace on their way to their targets in Ukraine.
“Deeply shocked by Russia’s attacks on civilians in Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine”, EU High Representative Josep Borrell said on Twitter. “Such acts have no place in the 21st century. I condemn them in the strongest possible terms. We stand with Ukraine. Additional military support from the EU is on its way,” stressed Borrell.
In a telephone call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Borrell condemned the attacks as “barbaric and cowardly”, stressing they targeted “innocent civilians on their way to work and school in the morning traffic,” and noting the attacks were made on purely civilian infrastructure, such as homes, streets, parks, playgrounds and other public places.
More western support
“With these attacks Russia aims to do maximum harm,” said Borrell. “The indiscriminate targeting of civilians is prohibited under international humanitarian law and amounts to war crimes.”
German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht pledged on Monday afternoon that Germany will deliver the first of four IRIS-T SLM air defence systems to Ukraine within days. “Russia’s attacks with missiles and drones terrorize the civilian population in particular,” said Lambrecht. “That is why we are now providing support, especially with air defence weapons.” One of the buildings hit by missiles on Monday included the German consulate in Kyiv, which was emptied in February after the invasion started.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg condemned the “horrific and indiscriminate” attacks, and pledged that “NATO will continue supporting the brave Ukrainian people to fight back against the Kremlin’s aggression for as long as it takes.”
Following the attacks, Zelenskyy spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, who pledged further aid to Ukraine, and with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who agreed to convene an emergency session of the G7 group of countries on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine.
