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Russia said the goals of the missile strikes had been achieved,
in one of the largest coordinated Russian attacks against
Ukraine since the first weeks of the war. Ukraine said the
rush-hour attacks in eight regions appeared to have been
deliberately timed to kill people, accusing Russia of terrorism.
"Today, Russia's armed forces have inflicted a massive strike
with high-precision long-range weapons against Ukrainian
military, communications and energy targets," the Russian
defence ministry said in its daily briefing.
"The goal of the strike has been achieved. All designated
targets were hit," it added.
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin said the attacks were
retaliation for what he called Ukraine's "terrorist attack"
against a vital bridge linking Russia to the annexed Crimean
peninsula. He promised a "harsh" response to any further such
attacks.
Ukrainian officials have exulted in the bombing of the bridge
but have not claimed responsibility for it. Ukraine says it is
Russia that is using terror tactics in the war.
Russia's bombardment of Ukraine was celebrated by pro-war
figures in Russia. The Russian-installed governor of Crimea said
Russia would have already won its "special military operation"
had such strikes been carried out every day.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechnya region who has been
outspoken in his criticism of Russia's military leadership and
repeatedly called for a more aggressive campaign, said he was
"100% satisfied" with the strikes.
Ukraine said it was seeking a "resolute response" from the
United Nations and the West in response to the attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the strikes, which hit the
centre of Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities, showed Russia
was trying to "wipe us off the face of the earth."
(Reporting by Reuters)
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