Kyiv picks up the pieces after retaliatory Russian missile strikes

Russia's retaliatory mass strikes across Ukraine were only the "first episode" of Moscow's planned response to the attack on the bridge to Crimea, said former President Dmitry Medvedev, claiming it had become necessary for Russia to 'dismantle' Ukraine. Once considered a reformer ready to liberalise Russia, Mr Medvedev has become one of Moscow's most radical hawks. "The first episode has been played. There will be others," Mr Medvedev said. Ukraine "will always pose a lasting, direct and immediate threat to Russia," Mr Medvedev, now deputy head of the Security Council, added on social media. Subscribe to The Telegraph with our special offer: just £1 for 3 months. Start your free trial now: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/customer/... Get the latest headlines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/ Telegraph.co.uk and    / telegraphtv   are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.