Ukraine to step up oil attacks as Russia hits Kyiv bridges

A total of eight bridges connect Kyiv's western and eastern banks along the Dnipro RiverImage: Valentyn Ogirenko/REUTERSAdvertisementUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday vowed to continue hitting Russia's oil refineries in retaliation for what he called Moscow's new strategy of targeting major Ukrainian cities for intensive air strikes.

Ukraine has accused the Kremlin of stepping up attacks on civilian targets in recent days, to force residents to leave urban areas of the country before winter.

In strikes over the past two days, Russian forces have also hit two major bridges crossing the Dnipro River in the capital, Kyiv.

In an interview with Reuters news agency, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence agencies had uncovered details of a "new doctrine" from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We saw documents and we know that they allow them to attack infrastructure ... logistics ... roads, schools, hospitals, to pressure people to leave the capital, leave different cities," Zelenskyy warned.

The Ukrainian leader said that Kyiv would "respond in any way (we can) ... First of all, oil refiners: who give money to them [Russia] for this war. But we will not respond, of course, like them, on any ‌civilian objects."

This week marks the first time Moscow has targeted the bridges across the Dnipro River connecting east and west Kyiv.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Saturday that the Northern Bridge over the river was struck by Russian forces from the air. 

In a statement posted on Telegram, Klitschko said two people were injured and the road surface and trolleybus wires on the bridge were damaged.

"Traffic across the bridge from the left bank to the right bank is currently blocked," he said.

Over the past two days, Kyiv's Southern Bridge has been hit several times by a volley of strikes by Russian drones.

The attacks caused traffic chaos, with long lines of stationary cars and buses clogging major roads.

A total of eight bridges connect Kyiv's western and eastern banks along the Dnipro River. 

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Saturday, meanwhile, warned foreign diplomats and nationals in Kyiv to leave the city, adding that "individuals are knowingly exposing themselves to mortal danger."

"The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to deliver massive retaliatory strikes," it said, while adding that "responsibility for any potential negative consequences rests entirely with those who ignore this warning."    

In the years following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has frequently targeted Kyiv with overnight drone attacks.

Moscow has previously denied a systematic targeting of civilians during its bombings.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu condemned the latest Russian attack on Kyiv and complained about a violation of her country's airspace.

"Its war is dangerously reaching Moldova," Sandu said in a post on X. "5 Russian air attack weapons, including Banderol missiles and drones, violated our airspace and exploded on our soil."

"Moscow is putting lives at risk across Europe and must be stopped," Sandu said. 

The Moldovan Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and urged Moscow to prevent such incidents.

Moldova is a strong supporter of Ukraine, and its airspace is frequently violated due to Russian attacks on its neighbor.

Russian forces are stationed in the Moldovan breakaway province of Transnistria, raising fears that Moldova could be the next target of invasion after Ukraine.    

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