Russia bombs Ukraine as at the beginning of the invasion: a sign of Putin’s desperation?

On Saturday there was an explosion on the Kerch bridge, which connects Crimea and Russia and that symbolizes the end point of the disputed annexation orchestrated by the president Vladimir Putin in 2014. It was a “act of terrorism“, said the president, who also pointed to the intelligence services of Ukraine -which in recent weeks has advanced in rejecting the invasion of Moscow- as those responsible. The investigations are still ongoing, but for Putin it is clear that it is time for revenge. “It is impossible to leave the crimes of the kyiv regime unanswered”, he sentenced.

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Putin kept his word yesterday with a wave of coordinated airstrikes in all regions of Ukraine. There were bombings in Kyiv -the streets were deserted and even the building where the German consulate operated until the beginning of the invasion was hit-, while the missiles caused cities like Lviv, Poltava Y Ternopil electricity will be cut off. He also released his fury on Zaporizhiawhich was hit days earlier with 16 anti-aircraft missiles and six cruise missiles, injuring 87 civilians and killing 17, Dnipro and Kharkiv, where a torture chamber apparently armed by the Russians was recently found.

The intense attack lasted for hours and showed an intensity not seen since Russian forces tried to capture the capital earlier in the war.

The Russian attack was condemned by Western authorities. United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarricargued that the response of the kremlin it was one “unacceptable escalation”. “As always, civilians are the ones who pay the highest price”, he added. On her side, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyensaid: “Russia has once again shown the world what it stands for: terror and brutality. Those who are responsible must be held accountable”.

USA He also spoke through his Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “I just spoke with Dymitro Kuleba [su par ucraniano] to reiterate the support of the United States […] after the horrific attacks on the Kremlin this morning. We will continue to provide economic, humanitarian and security assistance so that Ukraine can defend itself and protect its people.”.

To understand the seriousness of Moscow’s response, it is worth noting that the International Committee of the Red Cross -which according to “El País” has 700 workers delivering “help and medicine” in Ukraine- stopped its operations “for security reasons”. The attacks caused at least 14 deaths and more than 90 in the entire territory.

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyappealed to his allies the German chancellor Olaf Scholz and his French peer, Emmanuel Macron, and urged them to “increase the pressure” on Russia. The G7 leaders will discuss the situation in Ukraine on Tuesday, Berlin announced.

“Today, the whole world has once again seen the true face of a terrorist state that is killing our people. Not only on the battlefield, but also in peaceful cities.”Zelenski said in a message on Telegram that accompanies images of the consequences of the bombings.

LOOK: The different theories about what (or who) caused the explosion on the bridge that connects Crimea with Russia

A strong response

Addressing his Security Council, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured that if “attempted terrorist attacks” by Ukraine continue, the aftershocks will be “severe.”

“It was already impossible to leave crimes of this kind unanswered.”. thus justified Putin the use of 83 missiles and 17 Iranian drones against Ukrainea decision that for the security specialist and coordinator of the World Political Analysis Laboratory, Rubens de S. Duarte, not surprising. “He had to respond in some way. Russia cannot let the bomb against the bridge damage its image and military prestige”.

And that until the closing of the edition was officially unknown who was the author of the attack. “Ukraine is unlikely to claim responsibility for the coup because there were civilian casualties. To do so would be to open the window to the possibility of dire consequences, including those that go against international law.”.

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Hitting with such brutality is ultimately the best way to show that your power is still intact. “Putin also uses this situation to control the discussion within Russia. Otherwise, this fact and the Ukrainian counter-offensive would call his leadership into question.”.

Along these lines, what is coming is not so auspicious for Ukraine. As Duarte notes, it was already very difficult for his allies to share their weapons with him, but the situation seems to have worsened. Since the beginning of the war, Washington put the weapons manufacturers to work and so they managed, for example, to send 1.4000 Stinger systems Until April. Today, the alarm has already gone off: according to the AFP agency, the United States “will soon be unable to supply” these resources.

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How is it explained? According to the outlet, “American arms companies were forced to drastically reduce their production in the 1990s when USA reduced military spending after the collapse of the Soviet Union”. Hence, for example, the Stinger They stopped producing two years ago. If they send more weapons, the US will “it will take several years” reestablish your reservations.

In the midst of the crisis, the President of Poland Andrzej Dudaoffered its territory to host nuclear weapons as part of the program of the NATO nuclear delivery. Duarte doubts and sentences: “I don’t think his allies are going to change their strategy any time soon. They will surely continue to feed Ukraine, but it is unlikely that they will send troops”. In any case, it is clear that the attacks on Ukraine raise the tension much more.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.