New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s renewed attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other cities Monday has drawn a sharp response from India, which has expressed “deep concern” at the escalation of the conflict, “including targeting of infrastructure and deaths of civilians”.
A statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs said: “We reiterate that escalation of hostilities is in no one’s interest. We urge immediate cessation of hostilities and the urgent return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue. India stands ready to support all such efforts aimed at de-escalation.”
Our response to media queries on escalation of conflict in Ukraine:https://t.co/LoELjRwDEm pic.twitter.com/jCNHw95UKw
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 10, 2022
The foreign ministry statement added that India has consistently maintained since the beginning of the conflict that “the global order is anchored in the principles of the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states”.
At least 11 people were killed and scores injured Monday when Russia fired cruise missiles across Ukrainian cities in what President Vladimir Putin declared to be revenge for Ukrainian attacks, including on a bridge in Crimea.
Missiles hit infrastructure during rush hour Monday and knocked out power in large parts of the country.
The bombs hit busy intersections, parks and tourist sites in downtown Kyiv. Explosions were also reported in Lviv, Ternopil and Zhytomyr in western Ukraine, Dnipro and Kremenchuk in central Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia in the south and Kharkiv in the east.
In a televised address, Putin said he had ordered “massive” long-range strikes against Ukrainian energy, command and communication targets, using missiles fired from air, sea and land, in response to what he described as terrorist attacks, including Saturday’s explosion at the Kerch Strait bridge, Reuters reported.
“The Kyiv regime, with its actions, has put itself on the same level as international terrorist organisations. With the most odious groups. To leave such acts without a response is simply impossible,” Putin said, threatening more strikes in future if Ukraine hits Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Monday’s rush hour attacks were deliberately timed to kill people as well as to knock out Ukraine’s power grid. His government said 11 major infrastructure targets were hit in eight regions, leaving large parts of the country with no power, water or heat.
NATO has condemned the attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, and pledged its continued support to the “brave Ukrainian people to fight back against the Kremlin’s aggression for as long as it takes”.
Also read: Russia bombs Ukrainan cities in apparent revenge strikes against Crimea bridge explosion