Russian strikes on Kyiv ‘more of their barbarism’, Biden says

Bloomberg

Russian missiles struck residential buildings in the center of Ukraine’s capital early Sunday, which was condemned by President Joe Biden as “barbarism.” The strikes followed bombardments across in Ukraine’s north and west on Saturday, including missiles launched from Belarusian airspace.
“It’s more of their barbarism,” Biden said in response to a question from a reporter about the hit on residential buildings and other civilian targets in the capital.
The attack was Moscow’s first strike on the capital region since early June. Biden has previously condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “butcher” who’s attempting a genocide in Ukraine. He made waves during his last visit to Europe in March when he said Putin no longer should remain in power.
Ukraine Airforce Command estimated over 50 ground-, air-, and sea-based missiles were fired by Russia on Saturday alone at targets across the country. That trend continued into Sunday. A missile launched from a strategic bomber jet in the Caspian Sea hit at least one high-rise residential building in Kyiv. Rescue teams worked to extract people from the wreckage, including a 7-year-old girl who was among at least four people hospitalized. At least one person was reported killed. Missiles on Sunday struck Cherkasy, an industrial and transportation hub south of Kyiv.
Moscow’s troops are now in full control of the key eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, where Ukrainian troops made a days-long controlled withdrawal this week, local officials and the Russian defense ministry said.
Russia has moved in to occupy the city and three nearby villages, said Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Haiday. The city, which was an administrative center, is 90% ruined, he said. Sievierodonetsk had a pre-war population of about 100,000. It’s been under bombardment for weeks and was the scene of heavy street fighting as well.
Having taken control of nearby Sievierodonetsk, Russian troops are attempting to surround Ukrainian forces near Lysychansk, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian army.
Towns and villages near Lychychansk are bombed and ruined, Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Haiday said on Telegram. As Russian troops settle in, evacuation from Sievierodonetsk, which is about 90% destroyed, is only possible via occupied territories, he said.
Oleksandr Stryuk, head of Sievierodonetsk military administration, says civilians are evacuating the Azot chemical plant, where they’ve been sheltering.
Also, Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Saturday with his Belarusian counterpart and promised nuclear capable missile systems and a possible refit of Belarusian military jets.
Putin said Moscow would transfer Iskander-M missile systems to the Minsk government within months, according to Interfax. The systems can use both ballistic and cruise missiles in nuclear and conventional versions.