Russia-Ukraine Crisis: The Russian military Wednesday said it used sea- and air-launched missiles to destroy electric power facilities at five railway stations across Ukraine, with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine accusing it of “missile terrorism”. According to Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, the attacks were meant to disrupt the delivery of Western weapons.
The European Union, meanwhile, has proposed its toughest measure yet, calling for a phased embargo on Russian oil. Consequently, oil prices edged higher on Thursday, extending gains from the previous session, as a European Union proposal for new sanctions against Russia, including an embargo on crude in six months. As Russia stepped up its offence, the commander of the Azov regiment, said the incursions had continued “and there are heavy, bloody battles” at the steel plants in Mariupol.
Amid bombardments and shelling, the Azovstal plant has become one of the biggest sites of Ukrainian military resistance. The sanctions proposal, which was announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and needs unanimous backing by the 27 EU countries to take effect, includes phasing out supplies of Russian crude in six months and refined products by the end of 2022.
Russia moved to obstruct the flow of Western weapons to Ukraine by bombarding rail stations and other supply-line targets across the country while the European Union weighed whether to further punish Moscow with a ban on oil imports. The Russian military said it used sea- and air-launched missiles to destroy electric power facilities at five railway stations across Ukraine. Artillery and aircraft also struck troop strongholds and fuel and ammunition depots.