Ukraine: Vadym Prystaiko discusses attack on Crimean bridge
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Ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko has avoided taking responsibility on Ukraine’s behalf for the explosion on the bridge from Russian into Crimea, saying that the world “will find out later on”. As Ukraine recovers from a brutal barrage of missiles fired by Russia on Monday in cities across the nation, Mr Prystaiko said the Crimea explosion was “very helpful” to Ukraine because it reduced the number of Russian soldiers able to fight on the front line. Whether or not Ukraine is responsible, its officials have shown no regrets over the explosion despite the deaths of at least 18 Ukrainian civilians at the hands of Russia’s supposed retaliation yesterday. The ambassador’s comments come ahead of an expected plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the West for more air defence supplies to minimise the damage caused by any potential future attacks.
Ms Burley asked: “What happened to that bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean peninsula?”
Mr Prystaiko said: “Obviously, there was the blast that destroyed half of it. Whoever is responsible for that, it is very helpful for Ukraine because, first of all, that bridge was illegal to build and, secondly, it was used to reinforce Ukraine’s forces to the Crimean peninsula.”
Ms Burley said: “Was Ukraine responsible for the demolition of it?”
Mr Prystaiko said: “I guess we will find out later on. I have to say, from the beginning we have been saying that we will try to destroy it and we will be able to do so.”
Asked if he is “glad” it has been blown up, Mr Prystaiko added: “It was damaged so we have less troops [to fight against] on our frontline, yes.”
After Russia rained down cruise missiles in its latest escalation of its unravelling invasion on Monday, Mr Zelensky is expected to ask the leaders of the G7 group of nations to urgently supply Ukraine with air defence weapons.
US President Joe Biden and other Group of Seven leaders will convene virtually later on Tuesday to discuss what more they can do to support Ukraine and to listen to Mr Zelensky, who has called air defence systems his “number 1 priority”.
As Ukrainians woke up to the wailing of new air raid sirens on Tuesday, with parts of the country left without power, Mr Biden promised more air defences.
Officials said 19 were killed on Monday in the strikes across the country, the biggest air raids since the start of the war.
A Russian missile strike on Lviv on Tuesday left part of the western Ukrainian city without power, city mayor Andriy Sadovyi confirmed on the Telegram messaging app.
One witness reported three explosions in the city shortly after noon local time (0900 GMT).
The city previously suffered blackouts and problems with water supply after Russian missile strikes on Monday.
Ukrainian officials reported more strikes on Tuesday, including one on the southeastern town of Zaporizhzhia which killed at least one person, although there did not appear to be a repeat of Monday’s nationwide attacks.
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President Vladimir Putin, under domestic pressure to ramp up the conflict as his forces have lost ground since the start of September, said he ordered the strikes as revenge for an explosion that damaged Russia’s bridge to annexed Crimea.
Kyiv and its allies condemned Russia’s strikes, which mainly hit civil infrastructure such as power stations. Missiles also landed in parks, tourist sites and busy rush hour streets.
Putin said: “This morning, at the suggestion of the Ministry of Defense and according to the plan of the Russian General Staff, a massive strike with air, sea and land-based high-precision long-range weapons was launched against Ukrainian energy, military command and communications facilities.
“If attempts to carry out terrorist attacks on our territory continue, the measures taken by Russia will be tough and in their scale will correspond to the level of threats posed to the Russian Federation. No one should have any doubt about it.”
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