“We are bombing Ukraine back to the 18th century”

Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s forces continue to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Since early October, Russia has launched a barrage of missiles and deployed Iranian-made drones against energy targets in Ukraine in an attempt to cripple the country’s power grid. Most recently, Russian shells rained down on Ukraine on Wednesday. On the morning after the heavy Russian missile attacks, electricity and water supplies in Kiev could only be partially restored.

The Ukrainians should be exhausted – especially now that winter is coming. The Russians are determined to continue their drone and bomb attacks. The deputy State Duma spokesman, Pyotr Tolstoy (53), made it clear on the French broadcaster BFM how serious Putin’s troops are: even in winter they will not fail to attack Ukrainian power stations.

And then he spoke frankly: “We will bomb Ukraine back to the 18th century.” But that’s not all: the politician of Putin’s United Russia party also threatens the West. One must ‘prepare for a war that will last for years’.

«All possibilities to normalize the situation»

Tolstoy’s statements contrast sharply with recent statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (55). He claimed, as the “Daily Mail” writes, that the damage to the critical infrastructure of the Ukrainian capital Kiev was caused by “foreign and Ukrainian” anti-aircraft missiles.

Russia’s defense ministry said there had been no attacks on targets in the city of Kiev, but did not comment on similar attacks that cut power elsewhere. He later said Ukraine could “end the suffering” by “withdrawing in a way that meets the demands of the Russian side”. Ukraine’s leadership has “all possibilities to normalize the situation,” Peskov said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (64) described the bombing as a “war crime” and added: “Women, men and children are left in the dark as Putin deliberately and barbarously attacks the country’s civilian infrastructure .” (chs)