Kyiv Hit By Missile Strikes After Putin Blames Ukraine For Crimea Bridge Attack

Topline

Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities were hit by a series of missile strikes on Monday morning in an apparent retaliatory attack by Russian forces, a day after Vladimir Putin blamed Ukraine for an explosion that damaged the bridge linking Crimea with Russia.

Key Facts

In a Telegram post, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the capital city was under attack from “Russian terrorists” and missiles have hit the city center.

The attack on the Ukrainian capital was captured by BBC when a reporter had to take cover in the middle of a live broadcast as the sound of an incoming missile and a subsequent explosion could be heard.

Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv—the largest city in western Ukraine—said his city was also struck by Russian missiles which have disrupted power and hot water supply.

The extent of the damage remains unknown, but an emergency service official told the Associated Press there were several dead and wounded people.

The city of Dnipro—a key industrial hub—was also hit by multiple missile strikes, the New York Times reported, citing Ukrainian media sources.

Officials in Mykolaiv and Odesa also reported Russian attacks but said most of the incoming missiles were shot down by air defenses.

Crucial Quote

In a statement on Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “They are trying to destroy us and wipe us off the face of the earth. Completely. Destroy our people who are sleeping at home in Zaporizhzhia. Kill people on their way to work in Dnipro and Kyiv… The air alarm does not stop throughout Ukraine. There are missiles hitting. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded.”

Key Background

The latest attack on civilian targets across Ukraine signals a major escalation by Russia after a series of bruising losses on the battlefield and Saturday’s purported attack on the Crimea bridge—one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s marquee projects. In a statement on Sunday, Putin called the blast which damaged the only bridge connecting Russia with Crimea “an act of terrorism” carried out by the Ukrainian special services. Moscow was expected to retaliate to the strike on the bridge which was highly symbolic as it connected the annexed Ukrainian peninsula with Russia and was closely linked to Putin’s persona as a leader.

Tangent

Following reports of the attacks, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Beijing hopes “the situation will deescalate soon.” Despite not explicitly criticizing Russia, China has increasingly signaled its displeasure about the ongoing invasion. At a recent UN Security Council meeting, ahead of Russia’s sham vote to annex occupied Ukrainian territories, China urged respect for the “sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.” Chinese President Xi Jinping also raised “questions and concerns” about the invasion during a meeting with Putin last month.

Further Reading

Explosions rock multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv (Associated Press)

Russia strikes Kyiv and cities across Ukraine after Crimea bridge attack (Washington Post)