Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened more attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure after his country’s missiles hit cities across Ukraine. In a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President Joe Biden pledged to “continue to provide Ukraine with the support necessary to defend itself, including advanced air defense systems.” Zelenskiy called that “the No. 1 priority in our defense cooperation.”
Infrastructure facilities in eight regions were hit by Russian missile strikes, the most intense since the early days of the invasion. European leaders said the Russian attacks amounted to “war crimes.”
Putin said they were in retaliation for an attack on a multibillion-dollar bridge connecting Russia to Crimea. Kyiv has not officially claimed responsibility for the episode, which further highlighted the problems of Putin’s army in the eighth month of his invasion.
Key developments
- Senator Urges Freeze on Arms Sales to Saudis out of Russia Bias
- A Visual Guide to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
- Biden Condemns “Absolute Brutality” of Russian Missile Attacks
- Putin intensifies with civilian attacks as the army fights at the front
- Ukraine’s allies can’t get weapons fast enough as stockpiles shrink
- Russia loses 60% of its offshore crude market in Europe
- Wheat soars as Kyiv explosions increase risks to Ukraine’s grain exports
On the ground
The Ukrainian General Staff said the cities affected by the Russian attacks include Kyiv, Lviv, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsya, Kharkiv, Kremenchuk, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolayiv, and Odessa. Zelenskiy said 12 people were killed in the Russian airstrikes and 80 were wounded. Russia is moving reserve troops to areas where Ukrainian forces have advanced, the southern Ukraine operational command said on Facebook. To the east, Russian troops continue offensive operations on the axes of Bakhmut and Avdiyivka, the General Staff of Ukraine said.
- Truss to pressure G-7 to stay the course of the war
UK Prime Minister Liz Truss will urge leaders of the group of seven nations to “not waver” in their support for Ukraine following Russia’s latest missile strikes on civilian targets, according to a statement from her office. Leaders are holding an emergency call Tuesday with Zelenskiy to discuss a response.
Truss will also call for an urgent meeting of NATO leaders, according to an emailed statement. G7 leaders are expected to discuss the global energy crisis and the work they are doing to implement an international cap on the price of Russian oil. to discuss an answer.
Truss will also call for an urgent meeting of NATO leaders, according to an emailed statement. G7 leaders are expected to discuss the global energy crisis and the work they are doing to implement an international cap on the price of Russian oil.
- UK Spy Chief Says Russia’s Ammunition Runs Out (1 a.m.)
Jeremy Fleming, director of the UK’s intelligence, cyber, and security agency GCHQ, will say Russia’s military commanders in Ukraine know their munitions and supplies are running low, according to prepared comments.
In a speech in London on Tuesday, he added that Ukraine’s response to battle and cyberspace “is turning the tide” against “exhausted” Russian forces.
- Biden Pledges to Continue Supporting Ukraine to Defend Itself (10:04 p.m.)
“President Biden pledged to continue to provide Ukraine with the support necessary to defend itself, including advanced air defense systems,” according to a White House statement in his phone call with Zelenskiy. “He also underlined his continued commitment to allies and partners to continue to impose costs on Russia, hold Russia accountable for its war crimes and atrocities, and provide Ukraine with security, economic and humanitarian assistance.”
In Zelenskiy’s daily statement, he said that “we are doing everything we can to obtain a modern air defense. And I thank our partners who are already speeding up deliveries.”
Biden did not specify what air defense systems the United States will provide. A U.S. weapons package announced in August included six Advanced National Surface-to-Air Missile Systems. NATO’s standard air defense system, produced by Raytheon Technologies Corp., is used to protect the Washington region, including the White House. Two NASAM systems were previously promised to Ukraine.
- Zelenskiy says he spoke with Biden about air defenses (9:13 p.m.)
Zelenskiy said he had a “productive conversation” with his counterpart Biden that focused on the need to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses.
“Currently, this is the No. 1 priority in our defense cooperation,” Zelenskiy said on Telegram.
- Steel plant accelerates production due to unstable electricity (9:09 p.m.)
ArcelorMittal’s Ukrainian steel plant in Kriya Rih is putting its most energy-intensive equipment into electricity-saving mode and will temporarily slow down steel production, the company said on Facebook. He said production will return to normal after Ukraine’s energy system stabilizes.
- Angry Ukrainians Donate $5.6 Million for Killer Drones, Fund Says (8:01 p.m.)
The Russian missile strikes “infuriated Ukrainians,” according to the Serhiy Prytula Fund, which said on Facebook that it had begun raising money for Ukrainian kamikaze drones that have been successfully tested on the battlefield.
Seven hours later, the Ukrainians had donated more than 206 million hryvnia ($5.6 million), according to the fund. He said his fundraising for Ukrainian army units fighting on the front lines so far has provided more than 2,386 drones, nearly 8,000 communication devices, 620 military vans, 4,000 tactical first aid kits, and other equipment.
- Blinken Condemns Russian Attacks on Cities at Rush Hour (7:19 p.m.)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to discuss “the Kremlin’s horrific attacks on Ukraine today, including the missile waves that hit the streets of several Ukrainian cities during rush hour,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
“The secretary praised Ukraine for not allowing President Putin to break the spirit of Ukraine and reaffirmed the United States determination to support Ukraine,” according to the statement.
- Rescue Committee says bombing forced it to stop work (6:34 p.m.)
The International Rescue Committee said on Twitter that “shelling across Ukraine forced IRC staff to take refuge and temporarily suspend life-saving work.”
- Don’t give Putin an exit ramp, says Finnish president (6:32 p.m.)
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the West should not be looking for an exit ramp for the Russian president, even when Putin is unable to concede defeat in Ukraine.
“I think he’s not capable of taking a defeat,” Niinisto told reporters during a state visit to Norway. “The West’s task is not to offer or seek an exit ramp for Putin. The end result should be that Ukraine is free. That’s an exit ramp to Ukraine.”
- Biden says the attacks again show Putin’s “absolute brutality” (6:22 p.m.)
President Biden said the latest Russian strikes “killed and injured civilians and destroyed targets for no military purpose. They demonstrate once again the utter brutality of Mr. Putin’s illegal war against the Ukrainian people.”
“These attacks only further reinforce our commitment to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as necessary,” Biden said in a statement.
- Ukraine halts electricity exports to EU (6:02 p.m.)
Ukraine will halt electricity exports from Tuesday after Russian missile and drone strikes hit electrical installations, the Energy Ministry in Kyiv said in a statement.
The country had been exporting a maximum of 300 megawatts to Romania and Slovakia, a small fraction of the consumption of either country, to help “Europe replace Russian gas” and support “the stability of the European energy system,” he said.
- Some of the major U.S. airports affected by cyber-attacks: ABC
Airports in U.S. cities such as New York, Chicago, Des Moines, Atlanta, and Los Angeles have been hit by cyber-attacks, ABC News reported, citing a senior official he did not name.
The attacks originated inside Russia and impacted public-facing web domains that report on airport wait times and congestion, ABC said.
- India calls for a reduction in escalation after civilian deaths (5:50 p.m.)
India is “deeply concerned” about the escalation of the war, “including attacks on infrastructure and the death of civilians,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“We urge the immediate cessation of hostilities and the urgent return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue,” he said.
India, which depends on Russia as a supplier of energy and weapons, has sought to balance its ties with Moscow despite mounting pressure from the United States to reduce relations. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rebuked Putin at talks in Uzbekistan, saying “today’s era is not one for war.” Later, however, he abstained from a vote condemning the “annexation” of Ukrainian territory in the United Nations Security Council.
- U.S., U.K. Pledge Continue U.K. Military Aid to Ukraine (5:20 p.m.)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss spoke separately with Zelenskiy by phone, condemning the Russian attacks and promising more economic and military aid to Kyiv.
“Putin’s destructive rhetoric and behavior will not diminish our resolve,” a Downing Street spokesman said.
- EU Michel condemns Russian strikes as “war crimes” (3:55 p.m.)
“These indiscriminate attacks on civilians are war crimes,” European Council President Charles Michel said in a tweet.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed shock, calling the attacks “another unacceptable escalation of the war,” his spokesman said.
- Russia loses 60% of its offshore crude market in Europe (3:41 p.m.)
Russia has lost three-fifths of its sales of seaborne crude in Europe since Moscow sent troops to Ukraine in February. That market is going to disappear almost completely in eight weeks and the latest sanctions will make it very difficult to divert flows elsewhere.
- Zelenskiy, G-7 leaders will discuss Russian strikes on Tuesday (11:27 a.m.)
Leaders of the Group of Seven countries will discuss Russia’s missile strike on Tuesday in an emergency video conference that Zelenskiy will also join, people familiar with the matter said. Leaders will get in touch about how to respond, the people said.
Zelenskiy said earlier he spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose country holds the G-7 presidency. The Ukrainian leader also spoke with Macron to discuss Ukraine’s air defense, with “the need for a tough international response” to the missile strikes.
Separately, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said of the attacks: “We must be ready, since Russia, the Kremlin realizes that its war is headed for a shameful defeat, it will aim to further destabilize the situation, it will take desperate measures.” He added: “That seriously increases the risks both in Ukraine and elsewhere.”
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