Putin says he'll target Kyiv 'decision-making centres'

Vladimir Putin has threatened to strike Kyiv with Moscow’s new ballistic missile – in the wake of his forces conducting a “massive” aerial assault on energy infrastructure across Ukraine.

- JABED AHMED

The Russian president claimed future targets could include “decision-making centres” in the Ukrainian capital, as he said the latest strikes by almost 200 drones and missiles were in response to Ukraine using long-range US- and UK-supplied missiles against Russia.

Given that Moscow has repeatedly struck Ukraine’s energy sector during its almost three-year invasion – and that this was the second large attack in a month – Putin’s remarks have little credibility.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of a “despicable escalation”, saying it had used cruise missiles with cluster munitions in its early morning strikes. More than 1 million people lost power in the immediate aftermath of the strikes, and millions more had their existing schedule of rolling power cuts intensified.

Ukraine's air force said Russia used 91 missiles and 97 drones in yesterday's attack. It said 12 of those had hit their targets, most of which were energy and fuel facilities. “The enemy is using a large number of missiles and drones. Their massive use in certain areas often exceeds the number of means of (air defence) cover,” the air force said in a statement.