Latest news on Russia and the war in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine is a “fight until collapse,” Christopher Granville, managing director at TS Lombard says.

The EU accused Russia of committing a war crime by indiscriminately attacking civilians in its missile strikes on Kyiv and several other cities.

“Indiscriminately targeting people in a cowardly, heinous hail of missiles on civilian targets is indeed a further escalation,” Peter Stano, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, said.

“The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms these heinous attacks on the civilians and civilian infrastructure. This is something which is against international humanitarian law and this indiscriminate targeting of civilians amounts to a war crime,” Stano said.

Numerous leaders of EU countries slammed Russia for its “barbarism” and described the missile strikes, which have killed and injured civilians, as “unacceptable” and a “demonstration of weakness” by Putin.

Poland has called for more sanctions on Russians, and French President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

— Natasha Turak

Following the wave of missile strikes that struck several Ukrainian cities, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev suggested that this was only the beginning.

“The first episode is played,” he said, according to an NBC translation. “There will be others.”

Medvedev, who is currently the deputy chairman of the Security Council, pointed to the existence of a “Nazi political regime” in Ukraine, which he claims “will pose a constant, direct and obvious threat to Russia.”

“Therefore, in addition to protecting our people and protecting the borders of the country, the goal of our future actions, in my opinion, should be a full-fledged dismantling of the political regime of Ukraine,” Medvedev said.

Medvedev’s remarks echo earlier sentiments from President Vladimir Putin, who justified Russian invasion of Ukraine as a mission of “de-Nazification.” This claim has been rejected and ridiculed by Ukrainian and Western officials. Observers point out that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was elected by an overwhelming majority of 73%, is Jewish.

— Rocio Fabbro

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that he ordered long-range missile strikes on a number of locations in Ukraine targeting military, energy and communications facilities.

“If attacks continue against Russia, the response will be harsh. The responses will be of the same scale as the threats to Russia,” Putin said during a meeting of his national security council.

“In the event of further attempts to carry out terrorist acts on our territory, Russia’s response will be harsh.”

Putin did not mention that the missile strikes hit several civilian areas and resulted in numerous casualties. The EU has said Russia’s indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Ukraine constitute a war crime.

Putin has blamed Ukraine for the explosion on Russia’s Kerch bridge Saturday morning — the only bridge connecting the country to Crimea, which it illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014 — and called it a terrorist attack. Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the blast that destroyed part of the bridge.

— Natasha Turak

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov vowed to bring Russia to justice for its missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians, following a wave of explosions all over the country.

“Our enemy believes that missile strikes are effective means of intimidation. They are not,” Reznikov wrote on Twitter. “They are war crimes. Civilians are dying and getting injured. Ukraine, with the support of the civilized world, must bring the missile terrorists to justice. And will do it.”

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry also wrote on its Twitter, “So, russkies, you really think you can compensate for your impotence on the battlefield with missile strikes on peaceful cities? You just don’t get it do you – your terrorist strikes only make us stronger. We are coming after you.”

The strikes across Ukraine, which hit numerous civilian areas, came two days after a blast destroyed part of Russia’s Kerch bridge connecting it to Crimea, which it illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Moscow called the blast a terrorist attack and blamed Ukrainian forces. Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the explosion, but several state ministries mocked Russia over the event.

— Natasha Turak

Russia targeted critical energy facilities across Ukraine and hit civilian areas at a time of day that would maximize casualties, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following a wave of missile attacks in several Ukrainian cities.

“The morning is difficult. We are dealing with terrorists. Dozens of missiles, Iranian ‘Shahids’,” Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram official account, referencing the Iranian-made Shahid drones increasingly used by Russian forces.

The Russians “have two targets. Energy facilities – throughout the country,” Zelenskyy added, listing a wide range of cities and regions in the country’s north, west, east and south. “They want panic and chaos, they want to destroy our energy system.”

“The second target is people,” he said. “Such a time and such targets were specially chosen to cause as much damage as possible. Stay in shelters today. Always follow the safety rules. And always remember: Ukraine was here before this enemy appeared, Ukraine will be here after him.”

The first strikes hit Kyiv at about 8:15 a.m., as streets were packed with rush hour traffic. Exact casualty figures are not yet known, but the city’s emergency services say at least eight people have been killed and 24 injured.

— Natasha Turak

Several Ukrainian cities have been hit by what officials are describing as a wave of missile attacks — as far west as the city of Lviv, largely considered one of the safest parts of the country.

Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv and Vinnytsia, among other cities, have all reported explosions.

“Kyiv region and Khmelnytsky region, Lviv and Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Frankiv region, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy region, Kharkiv region, Zhytormyr region, Kirovohrad region, the south,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. He described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “terrorist” targeting civilians.

At least 8 people in Kyiv have been killed and two dozen injured, according to the city’s emergency services.

— Natasha Turak

Three more explosions hit Kyiv within an hour of the initial blasts Monday, which Ukrainian officials say were timed to maximize civilian casualties during the morning rush hour.

At least eight people have been killed and 24 have been wounded, NBC’s Cal Perry reported, citing Kyiv’s emergency services.

Critical infrastructure as well as residential areas including parks, university grounds, a residential building and a pedestrian bridge were hit, according to city officials and NBC reporters on the ground.

Ukrainian parliament member Lesia Vasylenko posted a photo on Twitter of a street, buildings and emergency vehicles shrouded in smoke, with the text: “Just minutes from my home. Just 20 minutes ago. What is Russia trying to hit? The national university? The park? Or the playground?”

Moscow has not yet commented on the blasts.

— Natasha Turak

Ukrainian officials are urging residents of Kyiv and other cities to stay in shelters in the wake of multiple strikes on the capital, which emergency services say have caused deaths and injuries. Reports are emerging of explosions in several other cities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on his official Telegram account: “The air alarm does not stop throughout Ukraine. There are missiles hitting. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded. I beg you: do not leave shelters. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Let’s hold on and be strong.”

“The air attack continues, I ask everyone to remain calm and stay in shelters,” Kyiv governor Oleksiy Kuleba wrote on Telegram.

“Air defense works in the region,” Kuleba continued. “There is information about downed objects. I emphasize that the air alert is still ongoing. Don’t ignore it and stay in cover. Do not photograph or film landing sites or damaged infrastructure. People’s lives depend on it. Let’s hold on.”

The initial strikes on central Kyiv took place around 8:30 a.m. local time during the morning rush hour.

— Natasha Turak

Several large blasts hit the center of Ukrainian capital Kyiv Monday, according to witnesses and city officials, after

State Emergency Services told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne that the explosions had caused causing deaths and injuries, according to Reuters, though the casualty number is unknown.

“Several explosions in the Shevchenkiv district – in the center of the capital. All services follow to place. Details later,” Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitchko said on Telegram, according to a Google translation.

Ukrainians had been bracing themselves for a retaliatory attack after an explosion destroyed part of Russia’s Kerch bridge on Saturday, the only bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed illegally in 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the bridge explosion a “terrorist attack” and accused Ukrainian forces of being behind it.

— Natasha Turak

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to convene his national security council Monday to focus on the explosion that destroyed part of Russia’s Kerch bridge — the only bridge connecting the country to the Crimean Peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014.

Putin has called the blast on the strategically important infrastructure a “terrorist attack” and blamed it on Ukrainian special services. Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but Ukrainian several state agencies mocked Russia over the event.

There are worries among Russia watchers that the meeting will be used to escalate the war with Ukraine, and comes just weeks after Putin threatened to use all means at his disposal — which includes nuclear weapons — to defend Russian territory.

— Natasha Turak