After the Ukrainian official warnings that Russia might launch attacks on Kyiv in response to the Crimean incident, the capital was shaken today, Monday, by several successive explosions.
Meanwhile, Vitali Klishko, mayor of the city, which was the most recent strikes on June 26, announced that Russian missiles targeted the Shevchenko neighborhood in the center of the capital, Shevchenkivsky, as well as Solomiansky, adding that all emergency services were directed to the targeted sites.
Russian attack
He also asked the city’s residents to stay in shelters until the end of the air alert period, saying, “We are under a Russian attack.”
While Rostislav Smirnov, an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs, indicated that at least eight people were killed and 24 others wounded in the missile attack on the capital.
For his part, Al-Arabiya / Al-Hadath correspondent reported that more than 4 explosions were heard, adding that the authorities suspended the work of all metro lines in the capital, and turned the major stations into shelters.
‼️????????????????⚡️Kyiv Mayor Klitschko: “Several explosions in the Shevchenkivskyi district – in the center of the capital. All services are directed to the site. Details will follow.” #Kyiv #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/msEeZ7pNUv
— Maimunka News (@Tb4O2u9c7MmZPmR) October 10, 2022
Explosions were also heard in other cities, such as Lviv, Dnipro, Ternopil, Kharkiv and Zaporizhia, amid reports of blackouts in many Ukrainian cities.
Belarus accusation
In addition, the Ukrainian authorities accused Belarus, which supports Moscow, of involvement, noting that the bombing of Kyiv came from its territory.
It also confirmed that the air defense systems in Kyiv were launched to confront the missiles.
This came, after Ukraine announced yesterday that Belarus It recalled its ambassador for “alleging” that it was planning an attack on its soil.
from Kyiv
Minsk is a strategic ally of Moscow, which has deployed nearly 20,000 soldiers on Belarus’ borders with Ukraine.
Its president, Alexander Lukashenko, who is close to the Kremlin, has declared since the beginning of the conflict that he is on Russia’s side.
Russian escalation
This bombing also came after several warnings that Moscow might escalate its strikes on Ukrainian territory, especially after the painful strike it received last Saturday, targeting the Crimean bridge that links the Russian mainland to the peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014.
Many observers were likely to respond Russian President Vladimir Putin We are striving to respond to this attack, by intensifying its missile strikes on the Ukrainian territory, especially after it was officially accused yesterday of the Ukrainian intelligence of being involved.
It is noteworthy that the Crimean Bridge, which was built at a great cost and inaugurated by Putin in 2018, constitutes a logistical transportation artery for the Russian forces fighting on Ukrainian territory, and an important supply route for them, especially to the Kherson region and the coastal city of Sevastopol.