Russia strikes Kyiv, other Ukrainian cities; many die

Russia unleashed a lethal barrage of strikes against multiple Ukrainian cities Monday smashing civilian targets including downtown Kyiv where at least eight people were killedRussian President Vladimir Putin said the strikes were retaliation for what he called Kyivrsquos ldquoterroristrdquo actions including an attack last weekend on a key bridge between Russia and the annexed Crimean Peninsula that is prized by the KremlinVolodymyr Zelensky president UkraineAt least eight people were killed and 24 injured in just one of the Kyiv strikes according to preliminary information said Rostyslav Smirnov an adviser to the Ukrainian ministry of internal affairs Putin speaking in a video call with members of Russiarsquos Security Council said the Russian military launched ldquoprecision weaponsrdquo from the air sea and ground to target key energy and military command facilitiesAlso Read Strikes on Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia kill 17 says OfficialResidential areas hitBut the sustained barrage on major cities hit residential areas and critical infrastructure facilities alike portending a major surge in the war amid a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive in recent weeks Blasts struck in the capitalrsquos Shevchenko district a large area in the centre of Kyiv that includes the historic old town as well as several government offices Mayor Vitali Klitschko saidSome of the strikes hit near the government quarter in the symbolic heart of the capital where Parliament and other major landmarks are located A glass tower housing offices was significantly damaged most of its bluetinted windows blown outResidents were seen on the streets with blood on their clothes and hands A young man wearing a blue jacket sat on the ground as a medic wrapped a bandage around his head A woman with bandages wrapped around her head had blood all over the front of her blouse Several cars were also damaged or completely destroyed Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across the country and in KyivUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces launched dozens of missiles and Iranianbuilt drones against Ukraine The General Staff of the Ukraine Armed Forces said 75 missiles were fired against Ukrainian targets with 41 of them neutralized by air defenseslsquoTargets were civilian areasrsquoThe targets were civilian areas and energy facilities in 10 cities Zelensky said in a video address ldquoThe Russians chose such a time and such targets on purpose to inflict the most damagerdquo he saidZelensky said on his Telegram account that Russia is ldquotrying to destroy us and wipe us off the face of the earthrdquoThe Group of Seven leaders will hold a call on Tuesday with Zelensky UK Prime Minister Liz Trussrsquos spokesman saidNATO condemns the attacks by Russia on civilian targets in Ukraine the alliancersquos Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on MondayThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever