Analyst: Russian rockets could have an opposite effect on one Putin wants

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the attacks were revenge for Saturday's explosion that damaged the bridge linking Russia and Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula conquered by Moscow in 2014. Mr. Putin called the attack on the Kerci Bridge a “akt terrorism” and pledged a harsh “response” to any further attack threatening Russia's security.

Simon Smith, a former British ambassador to Ukraine, said the Russian leader was trying to send the message of the type “you haven't seen anything yet” in Ukraine.

Ambassador Smith said the hail of Russian missiles in civilian areas was “psychological and physical contamination”, but also “a desperate act” from a Russian leader whose troops are losing territory in parts of eastern Ukraine that Moscow has already annexed.

“This shows Putin at the disadvantage” said Mr. Smith, who heads the Ukraine Forum at the “Chatham House” institute.

The Russian Defence Ministry said it was targeting the “Military Command and communications facilities and energy infrastructure”, but Ukraine accused Moscow of indiscriminately hitting civilian areas.

Ukrainian authorities said Russia fired 84 rockets against 10 cities, 56 of which were neutralised by air defence. At least 12 people were killed and over 60 were injured in missile attacks, officials said.

“Russia is seeking to defeat Ukraine's air defence”, Justin Crump, chief executive of security organisation “, told BBC Sibylline”

This is something they've tried to do throughout the conflict, but never to this degree”.

Crump said Ukraine will likely seek more ground-air missiles from Western allies to strengthen its air defence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will speak with leaders of the Group of the Seven Most Industrialised Countries during a video conference Tuesday.

Michael Clarke, professor of war studies at the “King” College in London, said Monday's attacks, although brutal, are likely not a turning point in war, “because in a way, the Russians are now showing the worst results of them”.

Ukrainians are finding mass graveyards and torture evidence, as well as continuing war crimes investigations in retaked cities after they managed to oust Russian forces from them.

With the escalation they're doing, all they're doing is to cause more misery to civilians in Ukraine, which will strengthen Ukrainian resolve”, said Mr. Clarke.

And they're still losing on the ground”.

Monday's bombing took place two days after President Putin appointed Air Force Chief General Sergei Surovici in command of all Russian forces in Ukraine. General Surovici has previously led Russian forces to Syria. There it was accused of leading a brutal bombing that destroyed most of the city of Aleppos.

Sidharth Kaushal, a researcher at the United Kingdom Military Institute, said Survikin's appointment would not bring a major change in Russia's military campaign.

He had a career that was damaged by allegations of corruption and brutality”, Kausal researcher said.

His past “may be a warning about his approach. However, Russian access has already been very brutal. ”

Andriy Yermak, senior adviser to President Zelensky, said Russia was looking for the “psychologically to break Ukrainians, to make us want the war to end regardless of which way”.

But Ukraine said it would not withdraw.

Kiev has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack on the Crime Bridge, but Ukraine's ambassador to Britain, Vadym Prystaiko, on Monday called the target military bridge and said Kiev forces would hit more countries of high military importance for Russia.

“We are not targeting Russian civilian infrastructure, especially beyond Ukraine's official borders with Russia,” he told Radio “”.