Russia is continuing its airstrikes on cities in Ukraine for the second straight day. The first missiles Tuesday were launched from two Russian aircrafts at around 7 a.m. local time, according to the Ukrainian military, which claimed four missiles were shot down.
There has been a lengthy air raid warning in place all morning in Kyiv, with officials appealing to residents on the messaging app Telegram to stay in shelters. “A missile has been taken down in one of the districts,” Oleksiy Kuleba, governor of the Kyiv region, said.
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The death toll from Monday’s missile attacks has risen to 19 people, with 105 wounded, according to the Ukrainian state emergency services. A doctor at the Okhmatdyt children’s cancer hospital in Kyiv was among those killed.
The emergency services also reported that there were more than 30 fires still burning in Kyiv and that critical civil infrastructure was damaged in 12 districts of the city. Russia’s defense ministry confirmed later Tuesday that it was targeting Ukraine’s energy system.
According to the United Nations, Russia may have violated the laws of war with its missile strikes. A spokeswoman told reporters it was “gravely concerned” that some attacks “appear to have targeted critical civilian infrastructure”. She added that intentionally striking such targets “amounts to a war crime”.
The independent Russian-language media Vazhnyye Istorii/Important Stories considers the possibility that Putin may believe that attacks against civilian targets are strategic: “Russia may seek to create a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine [… ] In this approach, Moscow looks to avoid facing off against the Ukrainian military, and focuses on inflicting pain on the civilian population.”
Putin’s Revenge Burning On Spanish Front Page
Spanish daily El Pais features a picture of a man running for cover after a Russian airstrike hit central Kyiv on Monday, with the words “La venganza de Putin.”
Swathes Of Ukraine Left In The Dark As Russia Targets Power Infrastructure
With Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure targeted by Russian airstrikes yesterday, hourly power outage schedules have been introduced in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv and the surrounding region. Intended to ensure balance to the power system and prevent large-scale outages, these controlled outages reportedly won’t last more than four hours at a time.
Ukraine has also suspended electricity exports to stabilize its energy system.
Today, Russia targeted the Ladyzhyn thermal power plant in the Vinnytsia region with kamikaze drones. In western Ukraine, 30% of the city of Lviv is still without electricity.
Russia Warns Of “Red Line” As Biden Promises More Air Defense Support And G7 Meets
Following Monday’s missile attacks across Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden committed to supplying Kyiv with modern American missile defense systems in their war with Russia.
Biden condemned Russia’s new round of missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, vowing to bring Russia to justice for war crimes and provide Ukraine necessary support.
Russia’s Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov warned the U.S and its allies against supplying Ukraine with more weapons saying, “We call on the United States and its allies not to cross the ‘red lines’ they have approached. Stop pumping the Kyiv regime with lethal arms. It will only lead to new victims and destruction, as well as further prolonging the conflict.”
On Tuesday, Biden will join other G7 leaders for a virtual meeting to discuss their support for Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its latest attacks on civilian targets.
Ukraine Calls Russia “Terrorist State” At UN
Ukraine called Russia a “terrorist state” at Monday’s United Nations General Assembly meeting set to discuss the recent annexation of its four partly-occupied regions, with the focus shifting to the widespread missile attacks on Kyiv and other large cities.
“Russia has proven once again that this is a terrorist state that must be deterred in the strongest possible ways,” said Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN.
Vassily Nebenzia of Russia did not address the missile attacks but defended the annexation of the four Ukrainian regions. “We are being accused when we are trying to protect our brothers and sisters in eastern Ukraine,” he said.
Hungary And Serbia To Build Pipeline To Transport Russian Oil
The Hungarian government announced Monday that they would be joining Serbia in an effort to build a pipeline supplying Serbia with Russia’s crude oil as European Union sanctions have limited supplies via the standard route.
Serbia currently receives its oil from Russia through Croatia via the JANAF oil pipeline. Last week, the EU placed an oil price cap for Russian crude deliveries to third countries through the sea as part of sanctions imposed in response to its war with Ukraine, forcing Serbia to find alternate methods.
“The new oil pipeline would enable Serbia to be supplied with cheaper Urals crude oil, connecting to the Friendship oil pipeline,” Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs tweeted on Monday.
Vox Pop Video Shows What Moscow Residents Think Of Putin
Independent Russian outlet Vazhnyye Istorii (Important Stories) surveyed the residents of the Russian capital and published a video of the interviews that were striking in their support of President Vladimir Putin. Here are some excerpts of the testimonies:
“I think it’s a great credit to Putin — his foresight, detachment of our country from the rest of the world, and willingness to impose sanctions — that’s very powerful.”
“I remember very well the 1990s when the country had practically ceased to exist, but thanks to Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin), we are still alive.”
“He managed to preserve the Russian world, supported it, developed it, and maintained our traditions.”
“Putin saved Russia from being looted.”
“The Crimea, which was originally ours, he gave it back to us. And on the whole, everything in our country is good, and everything is stable.”
“Thanks to Putin, Russian people have pride.”
Hong Kong Won’t Seize Russian Tycoon’s Superyacht
Hong Kong declined to seize the superyacht of a Russian oligarch who is under Western sanctions. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday there was “no legal basis” for the city to act on Western sanctions. Lee added that Hong Kong would comply with United Nations sanctions but would not act on measures imposed by individual countries.
The 1m vessel is believed to be owned by Alexei Mordashov, a steel and mining tycoon, who is considered to be an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russian envoys in Hong Kong received advanced notice regarding the arrival of a superyacht linked to a sanctioned oligarch in the city’s waters, according to the South China Post. But it’s unclear how long the superyacht will remain in Hong Kong’s waters.
Internet Mogul Yuri Milner Gives Up Russian Citizenship
Israeli-Russian billionaire Yuri Milner has announced his decision to renounce his Russian citizenship, after having criticized Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.
The 60 year-old founder of internet investment firm DST Global, who made a fortune by adding social media (Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp) and e-commerce platforms (Alibaba) to his portfolio, tweeted that “My family and I left Russia for good in 2014, after the Russian annexation of Crimea. And this summer, we officially completed the process of renouncing our Russian citizenship.”