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"Russian missiles across Ukraine may have the opposite effect of what Putin wants"

2022-10-10 21:37:22Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA ASSOCIATED PRESS
"Russian missiles across Ukraine may have the opposite effect of what Putin
View Russian attacks in Ukraine

A flurry of Russian rockets rained down on cities across Ukraine on Monday, bringing fear and destruction to areas that have seen months of relative calm, an escalation in Russia's war against its neighbor. Simon Smith, the former British ambassador to Ukraine, says the missiles are an act of "psychological and physical intimidation" by Russia. But he says it is also "an act of desperation" by Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose troops are losing territory on the ground. Michael Clarke of King's College London says Monday's attacks will only increase Ukraine's determination to fight.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the attacks were revenge for Saturday's blast that damaged the bridge linking Russia with Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula seized by Moscow in 2014. Mr Putin called the attack on the Kerch Bridge an "act of terrorism" and vowed a "tough" response to any further attacks that threaten Russia's security.

Simon Smith, a former British ambassador to Ukraine, said the Russian leader was trying to send a "You ain't seen nothing yet" message to Ukraine.

Ambassador Smith said the Russian missile barrage on civilian areas was "psychological and physical intimidation" but also "an act of desperation" by a Russian leader whose troops are losing territory in parts of eastern Ukraine that Moscow has already annexed.

"It puts Putin at a disadvantage," said Mr. Smith, who heads the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House Institute.

The Russian defense ministry said it had targeted "military command and communications facilities and energy infrastructure", but Ukraine accused Moscow of indiscriminate strikes on civilian areas.

Ukrainian authorities said Russia fired 84 missiles at 10 cities, 56 of which were neutralized by air defenses. At least 12 people were killed and more than 60 wounded in the rocket attacks, officials said.

"Russia is looking to defeat Ukraine's air defenses," Justin Crump, chief executive of the Sibylline security organization, told the BBC.

"This is something they have tried to do throughout the conflict, but never to this degree."

Mr Crump said Ukraine would likely seek more surface-to-air missiles from Western allies to bolster its air defences.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will speak on Tuesday with the leaders of the Group of Seven most industrialized countries during a video conference.

Michael Clarke, professor of war studies at King's College London, said Monday's attacks, while brutal, were likely not a turning point in the war, "because in a way, the Russians are now showing their worst results".

Ukrainians are finding mass graves and evidence of torture and continuing war crimes investigations in retaken cities after they managed to drive Russian forces out of them.

"With the escalation they're doing, all they're doing is causing more misery for civilians in Ukraine, which will only strengthen the resolve of the Ukrainians," Mr Clarke said.

"And they're losing on the ground anyway."

Monday's bombing came two days after President Putin appointed Air Force Chief General Sergei Surovikin to command all Russian forces in Ukraine. General Surovikin previously led Russian forces in Syria. There he was accused of leading a brutal bombardment that destroyed most of the city of Aleppo.

Sidharth Kaushal, a researcher at the United Kingdom's Military Institute, said Surovikin's appointment will not make a big difference to Russia's military campaign.

"He has had a career that has been marred by allegations of corruption and brutality," said researcher Kaushal.

"His past can be a warning of how his approach will be. But, nevertheless, the Russian approach has already been quite brutal."

Andriy Yermak, a senior adviser to President Zelensky, said Russia was seeking "to psychologically break the Ukrainians, to make us want the war to end no matter which way".

But Ukraine said it would not withdraw.

Kiev has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack on the Crimean bridge, but Ukraine's ambassador to Britain, Vadym Prystaiko, on Monday called the bridge a legitimate military target and said Kiev's forces would hit more sites of high military importance. for Russia.

"We are not targeting Russian civilian infrastructure, especially beyond Ukraine's official borders with Russia," he told Times Radio.

"But to achieve victory, we will have to go further."


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