Within hours of Russia firing cruise missiles on Monday which hit Ukrainian cities including civilian facilities in Kyiv killing at least 11 people, India said that it is “deeply concerned” at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of infrastructure and deaths of civilians. This is one of the most prompt and sharp statements made by New Delhi, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s had told Russian President Vladimir Putin that “today’s era is not an era of war” on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, last month. India has not yet publicly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In response to questions on escalation of conflict in Ukraine, the Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said: "India is deeply concerned at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including targeting of infrastructure and deaths of civilians.” Our response to media queries on escalation of conflict in Ukraine: pic.twitter.com/jCNHw95UKw — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 10, 2022 And, then he reiterated the Indian position spelt out by External Affairs minister S Jaishankar at the UN General Assembly last month, “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.” The MEA spokesperson said, “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.” This comes weeks after External Affairs minister S Jaishankar had on September 22 hit out at Russia, without naming them, as he spoke at the United Nations Security Council session on Ukraine. This was one of the toughest statements on Russia by the External Affairs minister in the last seven months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “this cannot be an era of war”, Jaishankar had said, “Let me emphasise that even in conflict situations, there can be no justification for violation of human rights or of international law. Where any such acts occur, it is imperative that they are investigated in an objective and independent manner. This was the position we took with regard to the killings in Bucha and this is the position we take even today. The Council will also recall that we had then supported calls for an independent investigation into the Bucha incident.” He also flagged the “nuclear issue is a particular anxiety”, in the backdrop of Putin’s thinly-veiled threat of nuclear options. On Monday morning, Russia fired cruise missiles at cities across Ukraine during rush hour, killing at least 11 people. President Vladimir Putin described it as revenge for Ukrainian attacks including on a bridge to Crimea. At least 11 people were killed and 64 wounded in Russian missile strikes across Ukraine, the state emergency service said, according to Reuters. Monday's intense, hours-long attack by Russia marked a sudden military escalation in its assault on Ukraine. It came a day after Putin called the explosion Saturday on the huge bridge connecting Russia to its annexed territory of Crimea a “terrorist act” masterminded by Ukrainian special services. Putin, speaking in a video call with members of Russia's Security Council, said the Russian military launched "precision weapons" from the air, sea and ground to target key energy and military command facilities. The missile strikes marked the biggest and most widespread Russian attacks in months. AP reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military invaded neighbouring Ukraine on February 24, said the strikes were in retaliation for what he called Kyiv's “terrorist” actions — a reference to Ukraine's attempts to repel Moscow's invasion forces and cripple their supply lines. The actions he referred to include an attack last weekend on a key bridge, prized by the Kremlin, between Russia and the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Putin vowed a “tough” and “proportionate” response should Ukraine carry out further attacks that threaten Russia's security. “No one should have any doubts about it,” he said. Russia's defence ministry said it had hit "all designated targets" in its massive missile attack on Ukrainian military, communications and energy infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of trying to wipe his country "off the face of the earth" and his defence ministry vowed revenge for the attacks. Apart from India, some other countries too condemned the attacks. French President Emanuel Macron expressed “extreme concern, as the strikes caused civilian casualties” and renewed his pledge of more military aid for Ukraine. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted that “Russia's firing of missiles into civilian areas of Ukraine is unacceptable.” The European Commission condemned as "barbaric" Russia's missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and warned Belarus against helping its ally kill civilians. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, said the Group of Seven industrial powers will hold a videoconference Tuesday on the situation which Zelenskyy will address. Germany currently chairs the G-7.
