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Russia hits Ukraine homes, evacuates Kherson, warns of escalation

23 October 2022 20:09 (UTC +04:00)

Under pressure in the south of Ukraine, Russia fired missiles and drones into Ukrainian-held Mykolaiv on Sunday, destroying an apartment block in the ship-building city near the front and said the war was trending towards "uncontrolled escalation", APA reports citing Reuters,

Mykolaiv lies roughly 35 km (22 miles) northwest of the front line to occupied Kherson, the southern region where Russia has ordered 60,000 people "to save your lives" and flee a Ukrainian counter offensive.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who some Russian nationalists have blamed for Moscow's setbacks since the Feb. 24 invasion, discussed the "rapidly deteriorating situation" in calls with French and Turkish counterparts, the ministry said.

Without providing evidence, Shoigu said Ukraine could escalate with a "dirty bomb" - conventional explosives laced with radioactive material. Ukraine does not possess nuclear weapons, while Russia has said it could protect Russian territory with its nuclear arsenal