On Monday, blasts were heard in Kyiv, and Ukrainian authorities reported Russian missile strikes across the country after Moscow blamed Kyiv for an attack on its Black Sea fleet and backed out of a deal to allow Ukrainian grain shipments.
“Another batch of Russian missiles strikes critical infrastructure in Ukraine.” “Russia fights civilians rather than soldiers on the battlefield,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet.
Do not justify these attacks by referring to them as a “response.” Russia is doing this because it still has the capability and desire to kill Ukrainians.”
According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko, missiles hit energy infrastructure in Kyiv and other cities, causing power and water outages.
“Neither peace talks nor global food security is of interest to Russia.” Putin’s only goal is to kill and destroy.”
There was no immediate response from Moscow, which accused Kyiv of attacking its Black Sea Fleet with 16 drones in a Crimean port on Saturday. Russia launched the largest airstrikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities since the beginning of the war earlier this month, claiming it was in response to an attack on its bridge to Crimea.
Ukraine has not confirmed or denied responsibility for the attack on the Russian fleet, as is customary for incidents in Crimea.
Russia and Ukraine are both major food exporters, and a Russian blockade of Ukrainian grain shipments earlier this year triggered a global food crisis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of “blackmailing the world with hunger” by withdrawing from a food export agreement negotiated by the UN and Turkey.
Among the vessels held up was one carrying tens of thousands of tons of wheat chartered by the United Nations World Food Programme for emergency response in the Horn of Africa, according to Zelenskiy in an overnight address.
According to Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry, 218 vessels have been “effectively blocked.”
The grain agreement required Russia and Ukraine to coordinate inspections and ship transit through the Black Sea, with the UN and Turkey serving as mediators.
On Sunday, no ships moved. The UN said it had reached an agreement with Turkey and Ukraine on a transit plan for 16 ships to move Black Sea grain — 12 outbound and four inbound — for Monday. Russia provided no immediate response.
The UN said Russian officials had been informed of the plan, as well as the intention to inspect 40 outbound vessels on Monday, and that under the agreement, “all participants coordinate with their respective military and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels.”
President Joe Biden condemned Russia’s action on Saturday.
About 80% of #Kyiv residents were left without water supply, said Klitschko
There is no light and water in some areas due to #attacks. Locals are already lining up for water in case of emergency shutdowns.#russiaisateroriststate #RussiaisATerroistState #RussiaInvadedUkraine pic.twitter.com/yRT7Gohmmt— Albina Fella ✙ 🦝🇺🇦🇬🇧🇪🇺🇫🇷🇵🇱🇺🇸🍉 (@albafella1) October 31, 2022
Russia’s morning attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure bring Kharkiv subway and electrical city transport to a halt, cut electricity and water supply in parts of Kyiv. Air defence system intercepted a missile in Kyiv region – video by reg police chief Nebytov pic.twitter.com/IMg2GxwIhT
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) October 31, 2022
