Explosions rock Kyiv a day after Putin accuses Ukraine of terrorism

Ukraine’s capital and different main cities have been underneath a sustained missile and rocket barrage on Monday, a day after Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of terrorism over an assault on a bridge linking Crimea to mainland Russia.

Not less than one of many suspected strikes occurred in downtown Kyiv as giant explosions have been heard across the metropolis within the first assault on Ukraine’s capital in months.

Vitali Klitschko, Kyiv’s mayor, wrote in a Telegram channel submit: “A number of explosions within the Shevchenkivsky district — within the centre of the capital . . . Particulars later.”

Sources reported that missiles or rockets struck the central intersection of Volodymyrska Road and Shevchenko Boulevard, on the north-west entrance of Shevchenko park, one of many busiest intersections in Kyiv throughout morning rush hour.

Photographs and movies despatched to the FT by authorities officers present first responders and ambulances on the scene. Casualties are anticipated, in accordance with first responders.

Twitter and different social media customers reported a big plume of smoke rising within the centre of the Ukrainian capital and stories of explosions within the metropolis of Zaporizhzhia, in southern Ukraine, and Dnipro, each nearer to the frontline with Russia’s invading forces.

It was not clear if anti-missile defences in Kyiv have been activated. Air raid sirens warning of potential strikes went off in Kyiv and all areas of Ukraine besides occupied Crimea about one hour earlier than the explosions.

The blasts got here a day after Russian president Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of terrorism after the assault on the Kerch bridge, a vital army provide route for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and image of Russian status.

A strike on Zaporizhzhia on Sunday had already killed 20 and injured dozens whereas a number of condominium blocks have been left in ruins.

In a video launched by the Kremlin on Sunday, Putin accused “Ukrainian secret providers” of finishing up the assault on the Kerch bridge, which he described as a “terrorist assault geared toward destroying vital Russian civilian infrastructure”.

Ukraine has not claimed accountability for the assault, although officers posted a number of feedback mocking Russia on social media and the Ukrainian submit workplace has issued a commemorative stamp.