– The military significance of Monday’s attack is very limited. It’s more about showing the Russian population, that they have to ask themselves what’s going on, that you are in control and strong, says Bildt on Vladimir Putin’s revenge attack today.
At least eleven people were killed and 64 injured in the launch of rockets at many Ukrainian cities, including the capital Kiev.
The Russian defense forces say they used long-range precision weapons to eliminate Ukrainian objects such as military facilities, energy supply and infrastructure, and that “all designated targets were hitBut television images show that a park near a playground, cars and an office building were also hit.
– This was a pure and simple terrorist attack on arbitrary civilian targets. It had nothing to do with the military or the infrastructure, says Bildt L’Espresso.
The attack was widely condemned internationally, also by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap).
– Today, on behalf of Norway, I would like to say that we strongly condemn the bombing of civilian targets that took place in Ukraine. This is an unacceptable attack on civilians, he told a news conference earlier today.
The attack created difficulties for emergency relief efforts in Ukraine. The Norwegian Refugee Council and the Red Cross had to stop their operations when the messages arrived.
– Nuclear threats, mobilization, false referendums and annexation of areas are simply unacceptable and must be countered by the rest of Europe, Støre added at a press conference.
The revenge attack comes the day after President Putin blamed Ukrainian intelligence for Saturday’s attack on the Crimean Bridge, which connects the annexed Crimean peninsula to the Russian mainland.
The bridge was a prestige project for Putin.
In a televised speech in connection with a meeting of the Russian National Security Council on Monday, he lashed out at Ukraine.
– If the attacks on Russia continue, the response will be harsh, Putin said in the speech.
