Russian President Vladimir Putin was angry with Israel after Prime Minister Yair Lapid joined the chorus of international voices condemning this week’s Russian assault on cities across Ukraine.

At least 11 people were killed and many more wounded when Russian forces launched 80 missiles and suicide drones at Kyiv and other major cities across Ukraine. The assault was seen as retaliation for an explosion at the main bridge connecting Russian-occupied Crimea to Russia-proper.

Putin warned that even more severe missile strikes would be launched against Ukraine if it continued its dogged resistance.

I strongly condemn the Russian attacks on the civilian population in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine. I send our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and the Ukrainian people.

— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) October 10, 2022

Turning to Lapid, the Russians insisted the bombardments had not targeted civilians, but rather critical Ukrainian infrastructure. The Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv also accused the Israeli leader of hypocrisy for ignoring Ukrainian attacks:

“It’s worth noticing, that, unfortunately, Israel chose to stand silent during eight years of ongoing Ukrainian terrorist attacks on civilians of Donbass, to turn a blind eye to the recent murderous Ukrainian attack on a refugee convoy in the Kharkov region, monstrous murders of civilians by Neo-nazi Azovs in Kupyansk and other Ukrainian cities, [the] vicious murder of a Russian journalist Darya Dugina, [the] recent Ukrainian terror attack on the Crimean Bridge as well as other numerous horrific and unpunished crimes of the Kyiv regime.”

Israel has tried to walk a tightrope in its relations with both Russia and Ukraine since the start of the war in February. But of late that policy has served to anger the leadership of both nations.