KYIV, Ukraine, Oct 10, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Russian forces launched a barrage of 
fatal bombardments across Ukraine early on Monday and President Vladimir 
Putin vowed even more "severe" retaliation against Kyiv.

The biggest wave of strikes across Ukraine in months killed at least 11 
people nationwide, and was apparent retaliation for an explosion this weekend 
that damaged a key bridge linking Russia to the Moscow-annexed Crimean 
peninsula.

The Ukrainian military said Russian forces had fired more than 80 missiles on 
cities across the country and that Russia had also used Iranian drones 
launched from neighbouring Belarus.

"Let there be no doubt," Putin said in televised comments addressed to his 
security council, "if attempts at terrorist attacks continue, the response 
from Russia will be severe."

Putin's predecessor, Dmitry Medvedev, warned on social media that the strikes 
-- which disrupted water and electricity services across Ukraine -- were only 
"the first episode".

"We were sleeping when we heard the first explosion. We woke up, went to 
check and then the second explosion came," Ksenia Ryazantseva, a 39-year-old 
language teacher, told AFP.

"We saw the smoke, then the cars, and then we realised we didn't have a 
window anymore," she added.

"There's no military target or anything like that here. They're just killing 
civilians".

- 'Demonstration of weakness' -

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the Russian strikes had aimed to 
take down Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Regional officials across the 
country confirmed widespread disruptions to services.

Russia's defence ministry meanwhile confirmed it had targeted Ukrainian 
energy, military command and communications facilities, claiming the strikes 
had been a success and "achieved their aims".

Ukraine's foreign minister said the attacks had not been "provoked" and the 
onslaught was Moscow's response to a series of embarrassing military losses 
in eastern Ukraine.
"Putin is desperate because of battlefield defeats and uses missile terror to 
try to change the pace of war in his favour," minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on 
social media. 

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the Russian missile strikes on the 
Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and other cities were "unacceptable".

"This is a demonstration of weakness by Putin, not strength," he tweeted, 
adding that he had contacted Kuleba.

Zelensky said on social media meanwhile that he had spoken with the leaders 
of France and Germany and urged them to "increase pressure" on Russia.

- Dozens injured -

In Kyiv, the national police service said that at least 11 people had been 
killed and at least another 64 wounded.

Ukrainian officials said the central Shevkenko district of the city was hit 
and that a university, museums and the philharmonic building had been 
damaged.

An AFP journalist in Kyiv saw a projectile land near a playground and smoke 
rising from a large crater at the impact site.

Several trees and benches nearby were charred by the blast and a number of 
ambulances were at the scene.

"If there is no urgent need, it's better not to go to the city today," Kyiv 
mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

In the western city of Lviv, mayor Andriy Sadovyi said there were disruptions 
to electricity and hot water services after bombardments that targeted 
critical infrastructure, including energy facilities.

AFP photographers there said plumes of black smoke could be seen rising above 
the town's skyline.

Moldova, a pro-democracy former Soviet republic, said several Russian cruise 
missiles targeting Ukraine had crossed its airspace, and it had summoned 
Moscow's envoy to demand an explanation.

"Our thoughts are with the victims of the brutal strikes," Moldovan Foreign 
Minister Nicu Popescu said on Twitter.

Moldova, which is a candidate to join the European Union, has a small 
breakaway region, Transnistria, which is armed and supported by Russia.
- Crimean bridge attack 
-
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin's, meanwhile 
claimed on Monday that Ukraine was preparing an attack on his country's 
territory.
He said Russia and Belarus would "deploy" troops together, without specifying 
where.

The autocratic leader also accused Ukraine, alongside neighbouring Poland and 
Lithuania, of training Belarusian militants to carrying out attacks at home.

The strikes across Ukraine came a day after Moscow blamed Kyiv for the blast 
that damaged a bridge linking Crimea to Russia, leaving three people dead.

"The authors, perpetrators and sponsors are the Ukrainian secret services," 
Putin said of Saturday's bridge bombing, which he described as a "terrorist 
act".

The blast that hit the bridge sparked celebrations by Ukrainians and others 
on social media.

But Zelensky, in his nightly address on Saturday, did not directly mention 
the incident, and officials in Kyiv have made no direct claim of 
responsibility.

On Saturday, Russia said some road and rail traffic had resumed over the 
strategic link, a symbol of the Kremlin's 2014 annexation of Crimea.
The 19-kilometre (12-mile) bridge is also a vital supply link between Russia 
and the annexed Crimean peninsula.

Some military analysts argue that the explosion could have a major impact if 
Moscow sees the need to shift already hard-pressed troops to Crimea from 
other regions -- or if it prompts a rush by residents to leave.