Russia Strikes Civilian Targets, Damages German Consulate In Kyiv 

Russia launched a barrage of missile strikes across Ukraine Monday, one of which damaged the German consular office in Kyiv, according to multiple reports.

Russia’s nationwide missile bombardment, the first in months, marks a significant escalation in the war in retaliation for Ukraine’s alleged sabotage of the bridge connecting Russia and the annexed Crimea Saturday, according to The Associated Press. Russia’s hours-long campaign  damaged critical infrastructure and civilian targets in multiple cities across Ukraine.

“Russia’s attacks with missiles and drones terrorize the civilian population in particular,” German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said Monday, Reuters reported.

Germany’s defense ministry subsequently promised to accelerate transfer of air defense systems to Ukraine, Reuters reported. The foreign office acknowledged the consular office had not been operational since the war broke out in February in a statement.

“The renewed missile fire on Kyiv and the many other cities show how important it is to supply Ukraine with air defence systems quickly,” Lambrecht added, according to Reuters.

pic.twitter.com/iwZNgxxxR2

— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) October 10, 2022

Russia’s hours-long campaign Monday damaged critical infrastructure and civilian targets in multiple cities across Ukraine, the AP reported. At least nine people were killed and 60 injured.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed his military launched “precision weapons” from air, land and sea bases against military and critical infrastructure targets at a meeting of the Security Council Monday, the largest bombing campaign in months, the AP reported.

Most strikes hit residential areas and power plants in 10 cities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, adding that Russia deployed missiles and Iranian-made drones against Ukraine, the AP reported. Of the 75 missiles launched, according to the General Staff of the Ukraine Armed Forces, air defense neutralized 41.

Residents fleeing from rockets during morning rush hour. An impact crater next to a playground in central #Kyiv. It is despicable & unjustifiable that Putin is firing missiles at major cities & civilians in #Ukraine. We are doing everything to strengthen air defenses. (1/2) https://t.co/YI6Ejlz4v4

— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) October 10, 2022

Kyiv Mayor Wladimir Klitschko said local authorities temporarily shut off power to some areas of the city while repairs to power generation and water facilities were being repaired, portending the difficulties Ukraine may experience in winter, the Financial Times reported.

“[The Russians] chose such a time and such targets on purpose to inflict the most damage,” Zelenskyy said, according to the AP.

Ukraine has not officially taken responsibility for the Saturday explosion at the Kerch bridge, which cratered the main roadway on the bridge and disrupted Russian supply lines into Ukraine, the AP reported.

The Russian Federation Investigative Committee determined a truck bomb had caused the explosion on the Kerch bridge, with Security Council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev calling the incident “a terrorist act and sabotage committed by the criminal Kiev regime,” Newsweek reported.

Putin had promised a “tough” and “proportionate” response to any further Ukrainian attacks jeopardizing Russia’s security, the AP reported. He said Ukrainian special forces “masterminded” the attack.