October 10, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday’s missile strikes in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities were in response to what he described as acts of “terrorism” by Kyiv, referring to the attack on the Kerch bridge linking Russia and Crimea on Saturday, which he blamed on Ukraine’s “special services.”

However, Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency claimed in a statement on Monday that Moscow had been planning a “massive” missile attack on Ukraine since early last week. 

Citing military intelligence, the agency said Russian military units had “received instructions from the Kremlin to prepare massive missile strikes on the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine on October 2 and 3.” 

“The facilities of critical civil infrastructure and the central districts of densely populated Ukrainian cities were identified as targets,” the statement added. 

Russia launched a total of 84 cruise missiles against targets across Ukraine on Monday, the General staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a Facebook post. 

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said earlier that Moscow's claims about the Kerch bridge attack were “nonsense.”

Germany is delivering the first of four IRIS-T SLM air-to-air missile systems to Ukraine, the German defense ministry tweeted on Monday. 

The latest Russian missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities "show how important this capability is for Ukraine's self-defense,” it added.

Germany announced it was going to make this delivery months ago.  

The Ukrainian government is asking people across the country to limit their energy use on Monday evening. 

The Ukrainian energy operator Ukrenergo – which operates the nation's high-voltage transmission lines – put out a specific call to people in the Kyiv region, asking them not to use energy-intensive appliances like washing machines, boilers and air conditioning units during that time.

Ukrenergo said on Facebook that it was working to repair damage caused to the Kyiv region’s power grids after they were impacted by Monday morning’s missile strikes. 

Some parts of the Lviv region are still without electricity, Gov. Maksym Kozytskyi said in a post on Telegram. 

He asked people in areas that have access to electricity to use it sparingly.

“Specialists are working to restore power as quickly as possible. But recovery could take more than 24 hours,” he said.

The White House has been closely monitoring the reports of attacks in Ukraine overnight, and find them to be “troubling,” a senior administration official tells CNN. 

The official added it is one more reminder of just how “brutal” Russian President Vladimir Putin can be. 

A Russian defense official is downplaying the need for Belarusian troops to participate in Moscow's "special military operation" — the term used by Russian President Vladimir Putin to refer to the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Andrei Kartapolov, head of the Russian Duma's Defense Committee, told Russian state media RIA Novosti on Monday that "there is no need" for Belarus to join forces with Russia.

His interview comes after Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko announced that Belarus and Russia will “deploy a joint regional group of troops” that deepens the military cooperation between the two countries. Lukashenko had also claimed that Ukraine is planning to attack Belarusian territory. In turn, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said, "this information is not true."

Kartapolov explained that the deployment of joint forces was primarily in response to the actions of Poland, which he said has started deploying formations on the border with Belarus. 

“The deployment is aimed at relieving the concerns of Alexander Grigoryevich (Lukashenko) and our Belarusian brothers," he said. "Of course, we cannot remain indifferent ... This is not a new grouping, it is provided for within the framework of the union state.”

He added, "a decision has simply been made at the request of the President of Belarus to deploy this group. It is too early to say to what extent. The decision will be made by the general staffs of our countries."

International leaders continue to react to Russia's missile attacks on Kyiv and across other Ukrainian cities on Monday morning.  

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen tweeted on Monday that she is “shocked and appalled by the vicious attacks on Ukrainian cities.” 

While on a visit to a border crossing point between Estonia and Russia with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, von der Leyen said "those who are responsible have to be held accountable."

“We are mourning the victims and I send my heartfelt condolences to our Ukrainian friends. I know Ukrainians will not be intimidated, and Ukrainians know that we will stand by their side as long as it takes,” von der Leyen continued. 

Kallas also said she wanted to send a “clear message” to Ukrainians, saying, “we are supporting you every possible way.” She expressed the importance of delivering air defense systems to Ukraine so the country could protect its cities and civilians. 

Meanwhile, the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola tweeted on Monday that “what is happening now in #Kyiv is sickening. It shows the world, again, the regime we are faced with: One that targets indiscriminately. One that rains terror & death down on children. This is criminal. They will be held to account. Ukraine will win. Europe will not look away.”  

See the EU chief's tweet:

The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, accused Ukraine of preparing strikes on Belarus, and warned the country against possible attacks, state media Belta reported Monday.

“Yesterday, through unofficial channels, we were warned about strikes against Belarus from the territory of Ukraine,” Lukashenko reportedly said at a meeting on security issues.

Referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and others, Lukashenko warned that what had happened to the Kerch bridge would seem like nothing “if only they touch at least one meter of our territory with their dirty hands."

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said, "this information is not true."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg criticized “Russia’s horrific and indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.”

Stoltenberg tweeted that he had spoken with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

He added that NATO “will continue supporting the brave Ukrainian people to fight back against the Kremlin’s aggression for as long as it takes.”

European allies roundly condemned Russian airstrikes that hit Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities on Monday morning.

“Deeply shocked by Russia’s attacks on civilians in #Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. Such acts have no place in (the) 21st century. I condemn them in the strongest possible terms,” the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell said.

"We stand with Ukraine. Additional military support from the EU is on its way,” Borrell tweeted Monday.

Belgium’s Prime Minister Alexander De Croo tweeted that the "bombardment of Kyiv and of civilian targets in many other cities is a reprehensible act by Russia.

"It is an unacceptable escalation of violence that strengthens Belgium's resolve in supporting the people of Ukraine and their brave fight for a free and sovereign nation," he added.

Moscow has declined to confirm Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's announcement that Russia and Belarus will “deploy a joint regional group of troops."

When asked about Lukashenko's comments, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "Interaction in various fields, including defense, is constantly discussed in the course of bilateral contacts between Putin and Lukashenko."

In recent days, tensions between Belarus and Ukraine have risen, with the Belarusian Foreign Ministry accusing Kyiv of planning an attack on its territory.

In turn the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said "this information is not true."

"Ukraine has never encroached on foreign territories. We strictly adhere to the fundamental norms and principles of international law and the UN Charter," the ministry added.

"(In) Belarus, military inspections have been extended until October 15. Also, once again, the closure of the airspace in the southern regions of this country was continued," the Ukrainian military said at the weekend.