KYIV, Dec 5 (Reuters) – Ukraine said Russia had launched a new missile strike on Monday as the West tried to curb Moscow’s ability to finance its invasion by raising the price of Russian offshore oil.
Aerial broadcasts fell across Ukraine and officials urged civilians to flee in what they said was the latest in a wave of Russian airstrikes since its February 24 attack.
Air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said, “The missile was not launched.” There were no reports of any damage or casualties but Ukrainian media reported that explosions could be heard in some areas as the relief defense system went into effect.
The Russian military has expanded Ukraine’s power plants in recent weeks as they face setbacks on the battlefield, causing major power cuts as winter sets in.
“Don’t ignore the alarm,” said Andriy Yermak, Ukraine’s chief of staff.
[1/9] Firefighters work inside a building inside a local church, which was damaged in bombings during Russia’s war with Ukraine in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, December 5 , 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
Ukraine returned to a planned ceasefire on Monday after a series of emergency strikes since Russia’s November 23 bombing, the worst of the attacks on energy infrastructure that began in early October.
Russia has said that the attack was carried out to humiliate the Ukrainian army. Ukraine clearly says that they care about civilians and thus constitute war.
A $60 per barrel crude oil price from Russia started on Monday. The seven-nation G7 and Australia agreed on Friday after European Union member Poland, which wants it to be lower, withdrew its objection. Russia is the second largest oil exporter in the world.
The agreement allows the use of G7 ships in the EU to transport Russian oil to other countries, insurance companies and credit companies, only if the cargo is bought at or below $ 60 per barrel .
Moscow has said it will not abide by the deal even if it has to cut production while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said $60 is too high to stop Russian aggression.
Both sides reported casualties from overnight attacks, on factories and other locations in southern Ukraine and government buildings in Russian-held areas in the east. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports.
Comment from Nick Starkov at Reuters; Authored by Himani Sarkar and Philippa Fletcher; Editing by Robert Birsel and Peter Graff
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