Russian Invasion|Russian Reactions

Annica Ögren 

13.04  

Explosions at Russian airbases On Monday, there are reports of explosions at two air bases in Russia, far from the front in the war, The Guardian reports. 

Russian media have published video clips on social media of the alleged explosions, which they believe must have occurred partly in the Saratov region, partly in the town of Ryanzan, about 24 kilometers from Moscow.  

Annica Ögren  

12.56 p.m 

Details: 104 robots in new Russian airstrike

robots in new Russian airstrike Russia has launched a new air strike against Ukraine. This is according to a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, according to Reuters.  

During the morning, there have been reports of aircraft alarms throughout the country.  

According to unconfirmed information to The Guardian, it may be 104 robots from a total of 13 aircraft.

........................................................................

Kerch Bridge, October 8/Vladimir Putin. TT.

Putin has visited the Kerch Bridge after the explosion in OctoberVladimir Putin. TT.

Russian Invasion|Russian Reactions Kerch Bridge, October

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kerch Bridge on Monday, which connects the annexed Crimean Peninsula with the Russian mainland, Reuters writes with reference to Russian state media.  

According to the reports, Putin received on-site updates on how work is progressing to restore the bridge, which was destroyed in an explosion in October. Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility for the explosion, but several sources have previously stated that the Ukrainian security service was behind it.  

The bridge was built in 2015, the year after Russia's annexation, and has been described as a prestige project for Putin.

Explosions at air bases in Russia - strategic bombers reportedly damaged  

Explosions are reported from two military airfields in Russia, both hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.The BBC writes. It is about the Engels Air Base in Saratov and a military base near the city of Ryazan, only about 20 miles from Moscow.  

Several people are said to have died. In the explosion at Engels, two strategic bombers are said to have been damaged. The Guardian writes that the explosions indicate that Kyiv has found a way to attack the bombers that Russia uses to attack Ukrainian infrastructure. 

Joakim Paasikivi, lieutenant colonel and researcher at the Norwegian Defense Academy, tells Omni that it would be remarkable if Ukraine was behind the attacks. He emphasizes that much is still unknown.   

- If there are more of this type of effort, the Ukrainians have clearly demonstrated the ability to strike strategic targets. It is extremely interesting.

The battles Devastation after attack in Zaporizhzhya/Volodymyr Zelenskyi. TT

Several dead in new attacks - many robots shot down  

The Ukrainian defense has shot down most of the "massive robot wave" that caused air raids across Ukraine on Monday. This is stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy according to Reuters. 

However, the city of Kryvyi Rih in the central parts of the country has been affected by the attacks, with one dead and three injured as a result. Also in Kupjansk in the east, one person has been killed in an attack.  

According to Zelenskyj, the work to restore the power supply in affected areas is already underway on Monday afternoon. 40 percent of households in the Kyiv area are said to be without electricity.

A Ukrainian soldier by a Russian tank captured by Ukraine from the enemy. Libkos / AP 

Report: Ukraine wants to take advantage of winter - mistake of the West to wait for spring 

Ukrainian forces will likely try to take advantage of weather conditions in the coming winter months to extend their counteroffensive and prevent Russian forces from regaining the initiative on the battlefield, the ISW think tank writes in its latest report, citing Ukrainian statements.  

A spokesman for Ukrainian forces in the country's east said on Sunday that the country is preparing heavier combat vehicles for winter fighting, as the frozen ground makes it easier to maneuver them. 

At the same time, the think tank criticizes American representatives who see spring as a better opportunity for a larger counter-offensive. US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said on Saturday that the fighting is likely to slow down this winter to allow both sides to regroup. 

Unless Ukraine's allies support the country's forces to carry out large-scale, decisive counter-offensives this winter, Ukraine will likely have to wait until March next year when the mud disappears, ISW believes.  

"Spring is the nightmare season for fighting in Ukraine," writes Tank the vasion|