Russia avenges the destruction of Crimea Bridge (direct coverage)
- Explosions in Kyiv, Lviv and other cities in Ukraine
Russian Ministry of Defence: strikes on Ukraine "achieved its goal"
Russian news agencies quoted the Defense Ministry as saying they hit "all the targets" in an intense missile attack on the Ukrainian military, communications and energy infrastructure on Monday morning.
The Kremlin also said that the bombings that shook Kyiv today were part of what it describes as a "special military operation".
Putin promises: the response to any other Ukrainian attacks will be "severe"
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday promised that Russia's response to any other Ukrainian attacks would be "severe" after Russian forces carried out retaliatory missile strikes across Ukraine.
At the beginning of a televised meeting with members of the Russian Security Council, Putin said: "It was not possible to let (Ukrainian attacks) go unanswered. If you continue, the Russian response will be severe and proportionate to the level of threat ".
European Union: Russian targeting of civilians in Ukraine "amounts to a war crime"
European Union Foreign Affairs Official Josep Borrell expressed his "profound shock" at the Russian missile strikes against Kyiv and other Ukrainian boys on Monday.
He said on Twitter: "There is no place for this kind of work in the 21st century. I condemn it in the strongest terms ". He continued: "We stand with Ukraine. more military support is on its way from the European Union ", apparently referring to a new military financing package that the bloc is preparing to agree.
Zelensky: Russia targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Russia had targeted energy infrastructure in its bombing campaign across Ukraine on Monday, citing the use of dozens of Iranian missiles and drones.
"They want to spread panic and chaos, they want to destroy the energy system," Zelensky said in a video posted on social media, adding that strikes by "dozens of rockets" and Iranian "witness" drones targeted all parts of Ukraine, notably Kyiv, the Khmelnytskyi, Lviv, Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Zaporegia, say, some, Kharkiv and Jitomir.
"A temporary power outage is possible, but there will be no break in our confidence in victory," he said in a video filmed outside central Kyiv.
"The enemy wants us to be afraid and people to flee, but we can only move forward and we will show that on the battlefield," he added, calling on the Ukrainians to stay in their shelters.
Britain: Russian missile strikes on Ukraine "unacceptable"
British Foreign Minister James Cleverly deemed the Russian missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other cities "unacceptable."
"It is an expression of the weakness (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, not his strength," he said on Twitter, adding that he had contacted his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuliba.
China calls for de-escalation
China's foreign ministry on Monday called for a de-escalation in Ukraine after explosions rocked several cities, including Kyiv, in what appeared to be Russian retaliatory strikes following an explosion on a bridge linking Crimea to Russia.
"We hope to de-escalate soon," ministry spokesman Mao Ning told a news briefing.
Ukraine: We shot down at least 41 Russian missiles
Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Valery Zalugni said his forces shot down at least 41 rockets fired by Russia into Ukraine on Monday morning.
He wrote on Twitter: "This morning 75 rockets were fired, 41 of which were neutralized by our air defence."
Foreign Minister of Ukraine: Putin terrorist speaks with missiles
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuliba said that Russian missile strikes targeting his country on Monday showed President Vladimir Putin as a "missile-talking terrorist."
"Ukraine has suffered several rocket strikes. Putin's only method is terrorism in peaceful Ukrainian cities, but it will not break Ukraine. This is also his response to all those who want to calm down and who want to talk to him about peace. Putin is a missile-speaking terrorist ".
Ukrainian police: at least 5 killed and 12 injured in explosions in the Ukrainian capital Kiev
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said there were fatalities and injuries in explosions that shook cities across Ukraine on Monday and accused Russia of trying to erase his country "from the face of the earth."