“Let there be no doubt ........response from Russia will be severe,” - Putin warns after escalation of missile attack against Ukraine

In response to media queries on escalation of conflict in Ukraine, MEA spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said:

"India is deeply concerned at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of infrastructure and deaths of civilians.

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.

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.”

“Let there be no doubt,” Vladimir Putin said in televised comments addressed to his security council, “if attempts at terrorist attacks continue, the response from Russia will be severe.”

Russia has launched a massive wave of strikes targeting cities across Ukraine, including key civilian infrastructure, in what the Kremlin said was a response to an attack on the Kerch bridge linking Russia and Crimea. 

At least 11 people are reported to have been killed and scores more injured, with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, warning of even more “severe retaliation” in the event of further Ukrainian attacks.

As the scale of Monday morning’s assault emerged, Russia faced a chorus of international condemnation, with the EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, saying such acts have “no place in [the] 21st century”. The UN secretary general, António Guterres, was “deeply shocked” by “another unacceptable escalation of the war”, a spokesperson said.

Many of the locations hit by cruise missiles and kamikaze drones in the midst of the morning rush hour appeared to be solely civilian sites or key pieces of infrastructure, including the country’s electric grid, apparently chosen to terrorise Ukrainians.

The strikes, launched from warships and strategic bombers, came barely hours after the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, denounced the bridge attack on Saturday as an “act of terrorism”, which he blamed on Ukraine’s secret services.

As Ukraine counted its dead, a Russian official said Moscow would try to oust Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s government as hardline bloggers and media in Russia celebrated what they hoped would mark the beginning of a widening of the Kremlin’s war.

Indian Embassy in Ukraine advises Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine

##  -- Indian nationals have been advised to avoid all non-essential travel to and within Ukraine. The advisory has been issued by the Indian Embassy in Ukraine in view of the current escalation of hostilities in that country. It said, that Indian nationals must strictly follow the safety and security guidelines issued by the Ukrainian Government and local authorities.

The Embassy has also requested them to keep it informed about the status of their presence in Ukraine to enable the embassy to reach out to them when required.