The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has intensified with Moscow carrying out retaliatory missile strikes targeting various Ukrainian cities in response to a huge blast in Crimea on Saturday.
In what is seen as retaliation by Russia for Crimea bridge blast on 8th October which killed 3 people and severely damaged the bridge connecting mainland Russia with Crimean peninsula, several missiles has hit the Ukrainian capital, Kviy.
Camera footage showed flames engulfing the Glass Bridge in Kyiv’s city center, one of the popular tourist sites, as Russia’s wave of strikes hit Ukraine https://t.co/7hz0BNzQpn pic.twitter.com/r13iqhlA00
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 10, 2022
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT – In apparent revenge, after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an explosion on the bridge to Crimea to be a terrorist attack, Russia struck cities across Ukraine during rush hour, killing civilians https://t.co/b3WkG3Lhoy pic.twitter.com/9nkILFjgIC
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 10, 2022
Explosions hit several cities across Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv with casualties reported.
India said it is deeply concerned over the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and called for immediate cessation of hostilities and urgent return to the path of “diplomacy and dialogue”. The comments by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came amid intensification of hostilities, with Moscow carrying out retaliatory missile strikes on Ukraine in response to a huge blast in Crimea on Saturday.
The world once again saw the true face of a terrorist state that is killing our people. On the battlefield & in peaceful cities. A country that covers its true bloody essence & goal with talks about peace. It proves that the liberation of 🇺🇦 is the only basis of peace & security. pic.twitter.com/U08lD1POE9
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 10, 2022
Bagchi said escalation of hostilities is in no one’s interest and noted that India stands ready to support all such efforts aimed at de-escalation of the situation.
“India is deeply concerned at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of infrastructure and deaths of civilians,” he said.
Russia has carried out a series of missile strikes targeting key cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, which is being seen as the most intense attack in the last few months.
The blast in Russia-controlled Crimea damaged the key bridge. Moscow has accused Kyiv for the blast.
“We reiterate that escalation of hostilities is in no one’s interest. We urge immediate cessation of hostilities and the urgent return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue. India stands ready to support all such efforts aimed at de-escalation,” Bagchi said.
The spokesperson was responding to media queries on escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.
“India has consistently maintained since the beginning of the conflict that the global order is anchored in the principles of the UN Charter, international law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states,” Bagchi said.
Since the conflict began in February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a number of times.
In a phone conversation with Zelenskyy on October 4, Modi said there can be “no military solution” and that India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts.
At a bilateral meeting with Putin in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on September 16, Modi told him that “today’s era is not of war”.
India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
The Indian embassy in Ukraine on Monday advised Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine in view of the conflict escalation.
The embassy also asked Indians in that country to keep the mission informed about the status of their presence in Ukraine.
“In view of the current escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine,” the embassy said.
“They must strictly follow the safety and security guidelines issued by the Ukrainian Government and local authorities,” it said.
“Indian nationals are requested to keep the embassy informed about the status of their presence in Ukraine to enable the embassy to reach out to them, where required,” the embassy said.
Russia has carried out a series of missile strikes targeting key cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv which is being seen as the most intense attack in the last few months.
The blast in Russia-controlled Crimea damaged the key bridge. Moscow has accused Kyiv of the blast.
