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Putin Strikes Back: Russia Launched Massive Missile Strike on Ukraine

Tsirkon Hypersonic Missile
Tsirkon Hypersonic Missile. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Ukraine gets smashed with missiles again: At the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Bali, Indonesia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a 10-point peace plan that included the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The Ukrainian leader, who didn’t travel to the Far East, and instead attended virtually, said, “now is the time” to end the war.

This was a shift in his tone from recent weeks when Zelensky had essentially dismissed out of hand the very idea of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Kyiv’s position remains largely unchanged.

Ukraine may see itself in the driver’s seat as it recently liberated Kherson, the first city and only regional capital captured by Russian forces, earlier this year. The Kremlin’s troops retreated last week – the latest setback for Moscow, which has been steadily losing ground in Ukraine.

Putin Goes All in On Missile Attack in Ukraine

However, Russia also seemed to respond to Zelensky’s calls for peace talks by launching a massive missile strike on cities across Ukraine. It was the largest wave of missile attacks to hit the country’s urban centers in more than a month. Air raid sirens reportedly sounded across Ukraine, as more than 100 missiles were launched by Russian forces.

The attacks eased in recent weeks, likely due to Moscow running short on ordnance.

Missile Attacks Resume

At least a dozen cities and districts were targeted in Tuesday’s strikes.

It was on October 10 that Russia stepped up its campaign to destroy electricity, water, and gas infrastructure across Ukraine. Power has been disrupted in several Ukrainian regions as a result of the missile strikes – and state power provider Ukrenergo had said that Russia was “trying to turn off the lights in the country again.”

The full extent of the damage was unknown, but the most difficult situation was apparently in the northern and central regions of the country.

At least one person in Kyiv was killed in Tuesday’s attack. Two missiles were believed to have hit the city, while four missiles had reportedly been shot down.

“It’s clear what the enemy wants,” Zelensky said in a video address posted to the social media platform Telegram. “He will not achieve this.”

Russia – A State Sponsor of Terrorism

Kyiv has described the missile strikes as being akin to a terrorist attack.

“Russian missiles are killing people and ruining infrastructure across Ukraine right now. This is what Russia has to say on the issue of peace talks Stop proposing Ukraine to accept Russian ultimatums! This terror can only be stopped with the strength of our weapons & principles,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said via a tweet.

Moscow was isolated from this year’s G20 summit, as multiple Western leaders had vowed to have no contact with its Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is in attendance on behalf of the Kremlin. Lavrov completed his program at the international conference on Tuesday morning and returned to Russia.

HIMARS in Ukraine

HIMARS. This is similar to what is being used in Ukraine.

Only China’s top diplomat had supported “Russia’s commitment” to settle the Ukrainian issue diplomatically. According to Tass, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, praised Moscow’s willingness to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis.

That was before the missile strike began. So much for diplomacy.

A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,000 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

Written By

Expert Biography: A Senior Editor for 1945, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,000 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

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