Putin Escalates War With Civilian Strikes as Army Struggles at Front
- Russia missiles strikes change ‘nature’ of war, Macron says
- Ukraine vows it will pursue offensive to expel Russian forces
Emergency services attend the scene of a Russian missile attack in Kyiv on Oct. 10.
Photographer: Ed Ram/Getty Images
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President Vladimir Putin’s blitz of missiles against dozens of civilian targets in Ukraine, including critical energy infrastructure marks a major escalation as he tries to overcome a string of humiliating reverses.
Russian officials and Kremlin allies cheered Monday’s strikes, which hardline nationalist voices had been urging, as Putin warned of more attacks if Ukraine continues what he called “terrorist acts” on Russian territory. The European Union denounced the missile strikes as “war crimes” and French President Emmanuel Macron said they reflected “a deep change in the nature” of the war.