An alleged Russian missile strike on a new power plant in the area has been reported, according to Ukrainian MP Volodymyr Ariev, who is in Kyiv this morning.
He said: “We know that yesterday’s strike was preplanned since Russian policy is still in effect. Although the perpetrator of the explosion in Crimea hasn’t been identified, [Vladimir] Putin would like to respond to it.”
Mr Ariev added that the reason for this escalation is “pretty understandable”.
“In one month, Putin is going to the meeting of G20 countries on Bali Island in Indonesia,” he said. “So he would like to present himself not as a weak leader after the defeat of Russian army in conventional battlegrounds.
“He would like to speak to the world from a position of strength. So that’s why he changed the commander… and his first day was an air strike to scare Ukraine.
“Of course, Ukrainians were not scared.”