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Russia unleashes wave of missiles on Ukraine as West condemns Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin described the barrage of missile fire on numerous Ukrainian cities on Monday as a response to “terrorist attacks” on Russian territory and warned that even tougher strikes could come.
Putin’s remarks at a Russian Security Council meeting came as the seven-month-old war saw a dramatic escalation with the targeting of city centres and infrastructure across Ukraine.
The attacks killed 14 people and injured 97 across the country, according to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry on Monday evening. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening address put the toll at 12 deaths and more than 80 injuries.
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International condemnation was swift, with world leaders using words such as “terrorism” and “war crimes.”
Russia fired more than 80 missiles across Ukrainian cities, the government in Kiev said, with air defence systems intercepting about half of them.
At least 36 were injured in the capital alone and deaths were reported, officials said.
Moscow’s rockets followed a weekend explosion that damaged the strategically important bridge connecting the annexed Crimean peninsula to mainland Russia. Putin blames Kiev for the attack on the infrastructure, which is used to supply Russian troops in Ukraine. Kiev has not taken responsibility.
Putin warned: “In case of continuation of attempts to carry out terrorist attacks on our territory, the responses from the Russian side will be harsh – and in their scale will correspond to the level of threat to the Russian Federation.”
The Russian attacks by air, ground and sea, which Moscow’s Defence Ministry said achieved their goals, were an “act of terror” according to Zelensky.
Kiev’s air raid alert was lifted in the early afternoon, after 5 hours and 37 minutes, the longest since the war began on Feb. 24.
City Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged residents to remain cautious.
Ukraine’s capital has been hit by Russian missiles several times since the beginning of the war, although Monday’s was the worst incident of its kind and the first attack on Kiev in months.l
It follows Ukraine winning back territory lost earlier in the war as part of a counter-offensive. Putin’s attempt to change the narrative also comes amid problems with Moscow’s partial mobilization of new troops, with Putin saying on Monday that mistakes must be dealt with.
Russian rocket attacks were also reported in other parts of Ukraine, from Lviv in the far west to areas of the contested east.
Power failed in parts of the eastern city of Kharkiv following three Russian air attacks, with one targeting energy infrastructure, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on the Telegram messaging app.
Parts of Lviv were also without power after damage to energy infrastructure. Ukraine called on all citizens to switch off electrical appliances in the evening to not overload the power grid.
Four deaths were reported by authorities as a result of a missile strike in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk in the Donetsk region, Mayor Vadim Lyakh said.
“Ukraine cannot be intimidated. We united even more instead,” Zelensky said in his evening video address, which was recorded by a damaged road junction near a Kiev university rather than his well-secured presidential office as is usually the case.
Zelensky said that that there were only civilian targets in and around a park in front of the university and no military installations, which Russia said it had hit.
“The occupiers cannot confront us on the battlefield and that is why they resort to this terror,” Zelensky said.
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities as having “no military purpose.”
“They once again demonstrate the utter brutality of Mr Putin’s illegal war on the Ukrainian people,” Biden said.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance’s support for Ukraine after speaking to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Stoltenberg “condemned Russia’s horrific [and] indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine” while UN Secretary General António Guterres was “deeply shocked” and India said it was “deeply concerned.”
European Council President Charles Michel said on Twitter: “These indiscriminate attacks on civilians are war crimes.”
After the latest escalation in the war, Group of Seven (G7) leaders plan to hold a video call with the Ukrainian leader on Tuesday.
Four deaths were reported by authorities as a result of a missile strike in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk in the Donetsk region, Mayor Vadim Lyakh said.
“Ukraine cannot be intimidated. We united even more instead,” Zelensky said in his evening video address, which was recorded by a damaged road junction near a Kiev university rather than his well-secured presidential office as is usually the case.
Zelensky said that that there were only civilian targets in and around a park in front of the university and no military installations, which Russia said it had hit.
“The occupiers cannot confront us on the battlefield and that is why they resort to this terror,” Zelensky said.
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities as having “no military purpose.”
“They once again demonstrate the utter brutality of Mr Putin’s illegal war on the Ukrainian people,” Biden said.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance’s support for Ukraine after speaking to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
Stoltenberg “condemned Russia’s horrific [and] indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine” while UN Secretary General António Guterres was “deeply shocked” and India said it was “deeply concerned.”
European Council President Charles Michel said on Twitter: “These indiscriminate attacks on civilians are war crimes.”
After the latest escalation in the war, Group of Seven (G7) leaders plan to hold a video call with the Ukrainian leader on Tuesday.
Zelensky meanwhile had spoken to a number of leaders including Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
In further justifying Monday’s barrage, Putin claimed there had been three Ukrainian attacks on the Russian nuclear power plant in Kursk.
He also accused Ukraine of shelling the nuclear power plant occupied by Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhya region annexed by Moscow.
Despite his leader’s comments, Russian parliamentarian Yevgeny Popov told the BBC: “We’re not going to attack civilians in Ukraine, we’re not going to attack people.”
The UN General Assembly is currently deliberating on Russia’s recent annexations of parts of Ukraine in defiance of international law.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) have called for specialised judges, improved digital evidence management and legal reforms to accelerate the prosecution of corruption and other financial crime cases in Nigeria.
The recommendations were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 8th Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges, held in Abuja from October 13 to 15, 2026.
The workshop, organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the NJI, was themed “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age.”
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According to a statement signed by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the workshop brought together justices and judges from across the country, alongside EFCC investigators and prosecutors, for three days of lectures and deliberations.
Participants resolved that designating specialised judges and court staff to handle corruption cases, alongside targeted training, would help address delays in the administration of justice.
According to the communiqué, delays in resolving corruption cases “will be greatly reduced by designating specialised judges and court staff to handle such cases as well as equipping such judges and courts with necessary skills through training to ensure efficient, certain and consistent application of existing laws in the administration of justice.”
The participants also called for a balance between protecting the rights of defendants and ensuring the speedy administration of justice.
They said the criminal justice system “must strike the proper balance between fairness, efficiency and legal certainty in the protection of individual rights on one hand and the speedy administration of justice, on the other hand.”
To achieve this, they recommended reviewing relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act where necessary.
EFCC, NJI Seek Better Digital Evidence Management
The participants called for stronger investigation standards, including improved digital management protocols, to ensure that prosecutions rely on credible and admissible evidence.
They also recommended a more coordinated approach to obtaining confessional statements, stressing that institutionalising video recording and other necessary safeguards would protect suspects’ rights and preserve the integrity of investigations.
On asset recovery, the communiqué described Non-Conviction Based Asset Forfeiture proceedings as “an effective tool for recovery of stolen assets.”
However, participants stressed that its use “must follow extant legal protocols, adherence to human rights standards and strong institutional oversight.”
They also called for procedural reforms to allow extensions of time for freezing suspected proceeds of financial crimes.
Participants Recommend AI Guidelines for Judiciary
The communiqué further called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the anti-corruption sector to work with the National Assembly and the Judiciary to develop governance protocols and policy guidelines for adopting and deploying artificial intelligence in the administration of justice.
Participants also urged stakeholders to familiarise themselves with existing laws and regulations governing the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of financial crime cases involving virtual assets.
These include the Investment and Securities Act (2025), the Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination (2026), the Rules on Digital and Virtual Assets Operations (2026) and the Proceeds of Crime Act (2022).
The workshop also highlighted the need for increased investment in digital forensic laboratories, technology infrastructure and specialised training for investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers.
Participants called for continuous training to equip judicial officers and anti-corruption agencies with the skills required to address evolving economic and financial crimes in line with global best practices.
On the use of open-source intelligence, they said investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers should treat it primarily as a source of investigative leads and corroboration, while ensuring that evidence relied upon in court complies with applicable evidential rules.
NJI, NJC Urged to Develop Certification Courses
The communiqué recommended that the NJI, working with the National Judicial Council (NJC), develop accredited certificate and diploma courses to equip judges and other relevant stakeholders with the skills required to improve justice delivery, subject to any necessary legislative review.
Participants also called for sustained coordination among stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice, particularly in sharing information on emerging trends in the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes in the digital age.
They urged heads of courts to use insights from the workshop to develop policies clarifying judicial practice on the technical issues discussed.
The workshop featured nine interactive sessions covering the admissibility of confessional statements, garnishee proceedings, abuse of court processes, asset forfeiture, artificial intelligence in investigations and prosecutions, virtual asset recovery and digital forensics.
Attendees included justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, judges of the Federal High Court, State High Courts and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, alongside other stakeholders in the judiciary and anti-corruption sector.
Participants expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented at the workshop by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, as well as other stakeholders and organisers who contributed to its success.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has alerted motorists to traffic delays along Ogunnusi Road towards Ojodu-Berger due to ongoing rehabilitation work.
LASTMA disclosed this in a post on its official X account on Sunday, stating that the road rehabilitation was being carried out by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC).
According to the agency, “The ongoing work is affecting traffic flow, with vehicles moving at a slower pace in both directions.”
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To ease the situation, LASTMA said a contraflow arrangement had been introduced for motorists travelling from Omole Junction towards Vis Junction.
“A contraflow arrangement is in place for vehicles coming from Omole Junction towards Vis Junction to facilitate the movement of traffic,” the agency stated.
LASTMA added that its personnel had been deployed to manage traffic and ensure the continuous movement of vehicles around the affected area.
“Our personnel are on ground managing the traffic situation and ensuring the continuous flow of vehicular movement,” the agency said.
The traffic management authority advised motorists to remain patient and exercise caution while the rehabilitation work continues.
“Motorists are advised to exercise patience and drive with caution while the rehabilitation work continues,” LASTMA stated.
Leading economists, financial experts and industry stakeholders have described the Dangote Group’s investments as major drivers of industrialisation and economic transformation across Nigeria and Africa.
The experts cited the Group’s impact on job creation, import substitution, foreign exchange conservation and economic competitiveness.
They voiced their thoughts at the Lagos Economic Summit themed “The Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity,” where they urged governments to implement policies that strengthen local industries and accelerate economic diversification.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Samaila Zubairu, commended the Dangote Group’s sustained investments across Africa, describing them as critical to unlocking the continent’s economic potential.
He noted that while recent economic reforms have improved foreign exchange stability, strengthened reserves and eased inflationary pressures, the focus must now shift to growth in industry, productivity and employment.
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Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, said industrialisation remains the most effective path to sustainable economic development.
He called for better alignment of trade and industrial policies, stressing that local manufacturers require strategic support to compete effectively and drive broader economic benefits.
Founder and CEO of Nairametrics, Ugodre Obi-Chukwu, said Africa’s growing population presents a significant industrial opportunity, noting that investments such as the Dangote Refinery are helping to retain capital within the continent while strengthening local production capacity.
In his keynote address, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Bismarck Rewane, said Nigeria is gradually transitioning from a consumption-led economy to one driven by investment and production.
He added that sustained investments in productive sectors will continue to stimulate growth, create jobs and improve living standards.
Participants at the summit also advocated stronger credit infrastructure, improved national identification systems and increased investment in skills development to enhance the productivity and global competitiveness of Africa’s growing youth population.
Photo Caption: From Left – Chief Economist, Dangote Industries Limited, Dr. Hassan Mahmud; Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; Chairman of Occasion/Special Guest of Honour, Samaila Zubairu; Key Note Speaker Session 1, Bismarck Rewane; during the Real Deal: Africa’s Greatest Investment Opportunity, Sponsored by Dangote Industry Limited in Lagos on Thursday 3, September 2026.
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