The exchange of fire between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate. Many police officers die in a series of attacks in the Russian Caucasus.
During the night, Ukraine once again attacked targets on the Crimean peninsula, which has been annexed by Russia, with missiles. There were several explosions in the port city of Yevpatoria, the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported on Monday night. The authorities in the port city of Sevastopol also issued an air raid warning – in contrast to the attacks during the day.
The consequences of the attacks are unclear. Several media outlets published videos and images of fires. However, reports of military installations allegedly being hit have not yet been confirmed by either the Ukrainian or Russian sides.
Crimea serves as an important staging area for the Russian army in its war of aggression against Ukraine. In addition, the peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014, is home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet and a number of bases from which the Russian Air Force launches attacks against Ukraine. Crimea has therefore increasingly become the target of Ukrainian attacks in recent months.
Many injured in attack on Sevastopol on Sunday
Only on Sunday, the port city of Sevastopol was attacked with ATACMS missiles. A missile intercepted by Russian air defenses exploded over one of the city’s beaches. The explosion killed four people, including two children. According to official Russian figures, the number of injured rose to 151 by the evening.
In Moscow, there was talk of a targeted terrorist attack. The Russian Defense Ministry, which initially claimed responsibility for shooting down all Ukrainian missiles and explained the explosion on the beach as a result of a missile being changed course by the anti-aircraft defenses, later retracted this statement. Instead, only four of the five missiles were intercepted, and the Ukrainians deliberately caused the fifth to explode over the beach. The military in Moscow announced retaliation.
One dead and a dozen injured in attacks on Kharkiv in Ukraine
Russia has once again shelled the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine. At least one person was killed in the attack with glide bombs and around a dozen were injured. Two of the injured were minors, Kharkiv’s military governor Oleh Synjehubov said on Telegram. The dead man is said to be a 73-year-old man. According to Synjehubov, there were three strikes in several densely populated districts. The damage is enormous, with several high-rise buildings badly damaged.
On Monday night, several explosions shook the suburbs of Kharkiv, Ukrainian television reported. Further details were not immediately available.
Selenskyj calls for more extensive weapons and authorization to use them
In light of this attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the West to provide more extensive weapons and permission to strike deep into Russian territory. “The Russian air force must be destroyed wherever it is and by all possible means that are effective,” Zelensky said in his daily video address. Kiev is working with its Western partners on a corresponding decision.
The ban recently lifted by Western states on using the weapons supplied to attack Russian territory near the border has already produced results. A “part of Russia’s terrorist potential” has been destroyed, but only a part. It is necessary to protect the Ukrainians better. “For this we need more long-range weapons.” Negotiations are also continuing on this. Zelenskyj says he expects further progress in this area in the coming weeks.
Russia: Anti-terror operation in the Caucasus after attacks in Dagestan
Meanwhile, Russia was shaken by a series of attacks in the Caucasus. It took several hours for the police in the predominantly Islamic Russian republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus to eliminate the attackers, who had attacked synagogues, churches and a police station. “The emergency services and security forces reacted quickly, but unfortunately there were some casualties,” said the mayor of Makhachkala, Yusup Umavow.
According to the authorities, the terrorists killed a total of ten people, including eight police officers. Another 16 people had to be hospitalized. At least six attackers were killed, Russian media reported, citing police.
In the evening, parallel attacks were reported in the southern Russian city of Derbent and in the Dagestan regional capital of Makhachkala. Synagogues were attacked in both cities, the Russian Jewish Congress reported. In Derbent, the synagogue was badly damaged by fire. Two Orthodox churches were also attacked, where a priest and a security guard were killed. Another target of the attackers was a police station in Makhachkala.
The war in Ukraine plays a central role at the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. The ministers want to take a decision for further sanctions against Russia.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is in Minsk for talks. He is also expected to meet Moscow’s closest ally, Belarus’ ruler Alexander Lukashenko.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
