Russia-Ukraine war: Putin threatens to target Kyiv ‘decision-making centres’ with new missile

Sarah Rainsford
BBC Eastern Europe Correspondent in Warsaw

The missiles and
drones are fired to knock out the power to Ukrainian homes and industry, partly
to stop the production of ammunition and missiles but primarily to make life
miserable for the population at large.

Ukraine has been forced to adapt to
these attacks, and businesses and even many houses now have generators that
kick in when the mains power is cut.

There are “invincibility points” where you
can go to stay warm, get fed and charge your devices. But the point of these
strikes is to sap strength and morale, and that is effective.

All the same, I
think these strikes do suggest a degree of pressure on Putin himself right now:
to end his full-scale invasion soon and claim some kind of win, before it
becomes risky for him domestically.

So far, he’s managed to avoid any general
mobilisation which would be hugely unpopular.

But tens of thousands of Russian
families have lost fathers and sons and Putin has had to recruit North Korean
soldiers to fill the ranks.

Putin’s forces are advancing in eastern Ukraine,
but they’re still a long way off controlling all the land he long ago declared
to be part of Russia.

Now he’s facing rising inflation at home, and a weakening
rouble, which means those Russians who’ve managed to keep their heads down and
pretend the war next door is not happening, are starting to feel its
impact.

That is why
Russia’s attacks on civilian infrastructure – which Kyiv denounces as terror tactics – are sure to continue – and likely escalate – as winter really begins
to bite.