A senior Russian official issued a grave warning to Ukraine, saying the country will soon face “doomsday” if Kyiv’s forces attempt to retake Crimea.
The warning came as Russian missiles pounded industrial facilities in Mykolaiv, a city near the Black Sea, in what Ukrainian officials said was a “massive shelling” episode.
Ukrainians fear that the Kremlin appear to be preparing for the next phase of the war, after Russia's Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, visited the front lines and issued an order “to further intensify the actions of units in all operational areas”.
In a chilling warning, a former Russian President warned Ukraine could face a further onslaught if they attempt to reclaim the contest area of Crimea.
Dmitry Medvedev, who served as President for four years from 2008, made the remarks during a meeting with a group of Second World War veterans.
He said Ukraine was “trying to snap back, and some exalted bloody clowns who pop up there periodically with some statements, are trying to threaten us — I mean an attack on Crimea, and so on”.
He added: "The consequences are obvious that if something like this happens, there would be a ‘doomsday’ for all of them there, very fast and hard."
Medvedev said if Ukraine keeps on provoking the "general situation" then there will be no avoiding further escalations.
The Kremlin annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 after a pro-Russia president in Kyiv was toppled, but most of the western world still recognises it as part of Ukraine.
Interfax news agency quoted Medvedev as telling the World War Two veterans: "If any other state, be it Ukraine or NATO countries, believes that Crimea is not Russian, then this is a systemic threat for us."
But a top advisor to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mikhail Podolyak, said Medvedev was just "a little man."
He continued: "'A little more, and I'll show you all!' Show what? Kill another child?"
Ukrainian defence minister told The Times last week that the country was preparing a million-strong army to retake occupied southern areas, which some say may have provoked Medvedev's comments.
Kremlin member Medvedev described the war as "a very difficult page of modern history", but he is convinced that the country will emerge "with dignity and will become stronger."
