Ukraine-Russia war latest: Nine killed and dozens wounded as Putin unleashes major attack on Ukrainian cities

Russian president Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had “opened a new page in a series of crimes” with its strikes on a dormitory in northeastern Luhansk region and on an apartment building in a Russian-held part of Ukraine’s Kherson region.

“Consciously committing the most ⁠serious crimes against children and ​teenagers ⁠at the teachers ‌college in Starobilsk, and now in Henichesk, the Kyiv leadership ‌has decided to open ‌a new page in the series of their crimes,” he said, at a meeting to discuss the aftermath of the attack on the dormitory in Starobilsk.

The drone strike in the Russian-held town ‌of Starobilsk killed 21 people ​in late May, ‌while a drone ⁠attack on an apartment building ⁠in the Russian-held town of ‌Henichesk on Sunday ​killed one ‌child and injured ​11.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his country’s forces have attacked at least 15 Russian oil refineries since January this year, reducing its ability to refine fuel significantly.

“Between January and May this year, our warriors struck 15 Russian oil refineries. Russia has already imposed bans on exports of aviation fuel and gasoline, and is also considering a ban on diesel exports. As of May, nearly 40 per cent of Russia’s primary oil refining capacity is offline,” Zelensky said in his nightly address.

“For a country that until very recently was called a gas station, losing even this is a major event. A major loss,” he said.

Referring to an intelligence report from yesterday on Russia’s economic losses, Zelensky said Russia “will crash into this wall of a real crisis because of its own foolishness”.

Russia’s Ilsky oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region caught fire after a drone attack, local authorities said this morning.

There were no casualties, ‌according to preliminary information, ‌the authorities said.

The ⁠Ilsky refinery, with an annual processing capacity of 6.6 million metric tonnes ‌of oil, ​or ‌133,000 barrels ⁠per day, ⁠is export-oriented.

Fuel sales in Sevastopol in Russia-controlled Crimea will be limited on Tuesday and authorities are working to resume the sales as usual from Wednesday, Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-backed governor of Sevastopol, said in a Telegram post.

Drivers in Russian-controlled Crimea were ‌grappling with gasoline rationing this week after Ukrainian drone attacks constricted road supplies across south-eastern Ukraine, Reuters witnesses and officials said.

In Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea and the traditional base ⁠of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Reuters witnesses reported long queues at filling stations.

Former Ukrainian lawmaker Oleg Tsaryov, a pro-Russian figure, said that the road ​that connects Crimea to the mainland in the north had been attacked by Ukraine.

“Fuel in Crimea ​is being sold ⁠in limited quantities and via rationing coupons. The reason is Ukrainian drone attacks on fuel trucks on the ‘Novorossiya’ highway – a land corridor linking mainland Russia and Crimea,” Tsaryov said.

This morning’s barrage of Russian drones and missiles came just hours after warnings were issued that Moscow was planning a major assault.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday reiterated warnings of a potentially major assault and urged residents to pay special attention to air raid alerts.

“Intelligence warnings regarding Russian strikes remain in effect. A massive strike is possible, they have prepared one,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address.

“Our defenders are ready 24/7 to the fullest extent possible with the supplies currently available,” he said.

Russia last week warned that it intended to launch “systematic strikes” on targets in Kyiv linked to the Ukrainian military as well as decision-making centres, and urged foreigners to leave.

Ukraine will significantly bolster its air defence with new Gripen fighter jets from Sweden under a new deal announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

The deal, unveiled at a joint press conference on Thursday, involves Ukraine purchasing 20 advanced Gripen E models and Sweden donating 16 older C/D variants next year.

The agreement builds on a letter of intent signed last year for Sweden to potentially sell up to 150 Saab Gripen E jets to Kyiv. While Gripen E deliveries are several years away, the immediate provision of C/D models offers a crucial stopgap for Ukraine’s air force, which operates a mix of Soviet-era and Western aircraft.

At least five people were killed and dozens were wounded in the early hours today after Russian forces attacked major Ukrainian cities including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv, officials said.

Most casualties are being reported from Dnipro where regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said four people were killed and 16 were injured in a brutal attack on a residential area and a children’s playground.

All those injured were hospitalised and reported to be in moderate condition, he said. The official shared photos of heavily damaged residential buildings, burnt-out vehicles and a destroyed playground for children.

In ​Kyiv, ⁠at least one person was killed and 29 others were injured in attacks across the capital, said Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the capital’s military administration.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said a suspected missile strike on a 24-storey apartment building triggered a collapse, with people likely trapped under the rubble.

Other buildings, including a nine-storey apartment block, caught fire from suspected missile debris, he said.

“In the Obolon district, cars are burning after being struck by falling missile debris. There are also fires at two locations in open areas, including one near a kindergarten,” ‌Klitschko said.

As of this morning, thousands of residents of Kyiv were taking refuge inside metro stations ‌and other shelters, witnesses said, after air raid warnings that covered much of the country.

The Kremlin said on Monday the French seizure of a Russian-linked tanker was “bordering on piracy” and vowed to respond.

French president Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that the navy had boarded the sanctioned Tagor oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean with support of international partners including the UK.

He said the operation took place “in strict compliance with the law of the sea”.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia considers the move “illegal”, warning that Russia would take measures to ensure the safety of shipping cargo in response.

In February, a Kremlin aide said Russia could deploy its navy to prevent the seizure of its vessels and may retaliate against European shipping if Russian ships are taken.