Ukraine Vows to Continue Defensive Despite Russia Massive Bombings on Major Cities

Ukraine says it will continue its counter-offensive reclaiming land annexed by Russia in the south and east, despite Monday’s escalation of missile attacks.

As part of his nightly address on Monday, President Volodymr Zelenksy filmed himself near recovery vehicles appearing to clean up one of the sites of the missile attacks.

“Restoration work is currently underway across the country. We will restore all objects that were damaged by today’s attack by Russian terrorists. It’s only a matter of time,” he said.

Zelensky added that Ukraine had managed to shoot down more than half of Russia’s missiles and drones, but he also warned of the ongoing threat.

“Follow the safety rules and pay attention to air sirens. The danger is still here but we are fighting,” the President cautioned.

Zelensky concluded his address by stating that Russia resorted to missile attacks because “they cannot oppose us on the battlefield.”

“Well, let’s make the battlefield even more painful for the enemy,” he said.

The BCC had earlier quoted Ihor Zhovka, deputy head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office as saying that Monday’s strikes were designed to cause panic, hitting major cities in the middle of rush hour.

But, he said, Russian President Vladimir Putin had failed to intimidate Ukrainians, even with the greater intensity of the strikes, which were seemingly targeted at both critical infrastructure and civilian targets.

Air Sirens Gone off

Air raid sirens have gone off again in Kyiv and across Ukraine, a day after Russia launched some of the worst attacks there for months.

The southern city of Zaporizhzhia was shelled again overnight, with one dead and buildings damaged, the regional governor says

Work is underway to restore electricity supplies cut by Monday’s bombings in various regions of Ukraine

The United States and other G7 industrialized countries are due to hold a virtual meeting later to discuss their response to the attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday’s strikes were retaliation for Saturday’s attack on a key bridge linking Russia with occupied Crimea

Putin blames the bridge explosion on Ukraine, and threatens further strikes in response to what he calls “terrorist attacks.”

Russia Rains Bombs on Ukraine

On Monday, Russia rained cruise missiles on busy Ukrainian cities on in what the United States called “horrific strikes”, killing civilians and knocking out power and heat with its most widespread air attacks since the start of the war.

Missiles tore into intersections, parks and tourist sites in the capital Kyiv and explosions were reported in Lviv, Ternopil and Zhytomyr in western Ukraine, Dnipro and Kremenchuk in the centre, Zaporizhzhia in the south and Kharkiv in the east.

President Vladimir Putin said he had ordered “massive” long range strikes after an attack on the bridge linking Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula over the weekend, and threatened more strikes in the future if Ukraine hits Russian territory.

Biden pledges to continue US air defense support to Ukraine

A lengthy phone call between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden has been described as a “productive conversation” in which air defense was top of the agenda.

The White House has confirmed President Biden pledged to continue providing Ukraine with the support needed to defend itself, including advanced air defense systems.

Mr Biden also underscored his ongoing engagement with allies and partners “to continue imposing costs on Russia, holding Russia accountable for its war crimes and atrocities, and providing Ukraine with security, economic, and humanitarian assistance”.

Meanwhile, leaders of the G7 group of advanced economies will meet virtually later – and UK Prime Minister Liz Truss is set to urge her counterparts to “stay the course” by keeping up their support for Ukraine, the BCC said.

She’s expected to say: “The overwhelming international support for Ukraine’s struggle stands in stark opposition to the isolation of Russia on the international stage.”

Truss will say Ukraine wants peace – and that the West “must not waver one iota” in helping Kyiv to win it.

The British PM spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the wake of widespread Russian missile strikes on Monday – and Zelensky himself is also expected to be involved in the G7 meeting at 13:00 BST.

Credit: BBC