UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed his “deeply shocked” by the Russian retaliatory attacks in Ukraine. “This represents a further unacceptable escalation of the war and, as always, civilians are paying the highest price,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Monday.
Russia fired more than 80 rockets at Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine on Monday. The attacks killed at least 11 people across the country and injured at least 64, according to Ukrainian civil defense. According to Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, five people died and 52 were injured in Kyiv alone. Many people were on their way to work.
After the rocket attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin increased the threats in the National Security Council. He described the attacks once morest numerous Ukrainian cities as a reaction to “terrorist attacks” once morest “Russian territory”, probably meaning Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
Lukashenko for joint troops
There was an explosion on the Crimean Bridge over the weekend. At the same time, he threatened Kyiv with an even tougher “response” if the “Ukrainian attacks” continued. Another level of escalation became apparent at the same time: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that he wanted to form troops once morest Ukraine together with Russia.
“We have decided to set up a regional association of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus,” Lukashenko said, according to the Belarusian state news agency Belta, without giving any information regarding their location. The formation of the group on his orders began two days ago.
He accused Ukraine of preparing an attack on Belarus, which is why this decision has now been made. According to a report by the Russian news agency RIA, Lukashenko also accuses NATO and some European countries of preparing an attack on Belarus, including a nuclear attack.
Revenge for Crimean Bridge
Earlier, Deputy Chief of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev threatened Ukraine with retaliation for the explosion on the Crimean bridge, which is strategic for Russia, on Saturday. Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin spoke yesterday of a “terrorist attack” on the bridge and – like the media in Kyiv – blamed the Ukrainian secret service SBU. However, the SBU has not confirmed an involvement.
How far away is peace?
Russia recently responded to Ukraine’s successful offensive in the east of the country with partial mobilization. However, military experts question whether this will quickly have military consequences. How will the war develop in the coming weeks and then in the winter? What are the consequences of partial mobilization for the mood in Russia? How far off is peace?
Discuss with in debatte.ORF.at!
