Putin threatens 'very harsh' measures after forces launch a barrage of strikes at Ukrainian cities

ITV News Correspondent John Ray reports from Kyiv on an escalation in the conflict in Ukraine

Towns and cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, were hit by multiple strikes during rush hour on Monday the after attack on a critical bridge between Russian and annexed Crimea.

At least 14 people are known to have died and about 100 injured in the attacks on several regions.

The blasts also knocked out power, plunging much of the country into a blackout. The shortages are so severe, Ukraine warned it would stop power exports to Europe from Tuesday.

Russia said missiles targeted military and energy facilities, but some struck civilian areas while people were on their way to school and work.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a video address, referred to the rush hour timing of Monday's attacks, saying Russia “chose such a time and such targets on purpose to inflict the most damage."

Downing Street said Liz Truss “strongly condemned” Vladimir Putin’s “appalling attacks on civilian areas”, saying she had called Mr Zelensky.

“The prime minister said that these are a sign of Ukrainian success and increasing desperation by Putin in response.

ITV News Security Editor Rohit Kachroo on whether the attacks were planned before a strike on the critical bridge between Russia and Crimea or were a one off act of revenge

“The prime minister stressed that the UK stands wholeheartedly behind President Zelensky and Ukraine. Putin’s destructive rhetoric and behaviour will not diminish our resolve."

The UK's Security Minister described the strikes as "war crimes" while Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said they were “unacceptable”.

Meanwhile French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “extreme concern, as the strikes caused civilian casualties” and renewed his pledge of more military aid for Ukraine.

Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, also said the attacks show the "desperation" of the Kremlin.

"These indiscriminate attacks on civilians are war crimes," he said in a tweet.

Russia's President Putin, however, accused Ukraine of carrying out terror attacks and said his country would respond with "very harsh" measures.

'Ask Putin a question, and his response is always to hit harder' - John Ray in Kyiv on why many in Ukraine do not believe the barrage of attacks were a one-off

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitchko reported explosions in the city’s Shevchenko district, a large area in the centre of Kyiv that includes the historic old town as well as several government offices. At least eleven people were killed and 64 injured.

There was a total of four reported explosions in Kyiv on Monday, ITV News Correspondent John Ray reports.

One video circulating on social media appears to show a strike on a cycling and pedestrian bridge, suggesting that Russia is striking civilian infrastructure after weeks of disappointment on the battlefield.

The sustained barrage on major cities hit residential areas and critical infrastructure facilities alike, representing a major surge in the war amid a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive in recent weeks.

While air raid sirens have continued throughout the war, in Kyiv and elsewhere many Ukrainians had been ignoring the warnings after months of calm.

It came a few hours before Putin was due to hold a meeting with his security council, as Moscow’s war in Ukraine approaches its eight-month and the Kremlin reels from humiliating battlefield setbacks in areas it is trying to illegally annex.

The General Staff of the Ukraine Armed Forces said 75 missiles were fired against Ukrainian targets, with 41 of them neutralised by air defences.

Strikes hit other cities in Ukraine not under immediate attack by Russian forces, including Dnipro and Lviv, as air raid sirens sounded for four straight hours across much of the country.

Kharkiv was hit three times, its Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. The strikes knocked out the electricity and water supply. Energy infrastructure was also hit in Lviv, Regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi said.

Kharkiv, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr and Kropyvnytskyi were also hit by strikes this morning. The strikes come after an attack damaged a large bridge connecting Russia to the annexed territory of Crimea, something which was widely praised on Ukrainian social media.

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy said on his Telegram account that Russia is “trying to destroy us and wipe us off the face of the earth.”

“Please do not leave (bomb) shelters,” he wrote. “Let’s hold on and be strong.”

Ukraine has switched all schools to online learning amid fears Monday's attacks may mark the start of a new Russian offensive. Recent fighting has focused on the regions just north of Crimea, including Zaporizhzhia, where six missiles were launched overnight on Saturday from Russian-occupied areas of the Zaporizhzhia region. Putin on Sunday called the attack on the Kerch Bridge “a terrorist act” masterminded by Ukrainian special services.

The bridge, which links annexed Crimea to Russia, was hit by an explosion over the weekend. Nobody has claimed responsibility.

On Monday, Putin gave a statement in which he doubled-down on his "terrorism" accusation. He also claimed Ukraine was carrying out attacks against critical infrastructure in Russia.

He said a "massive high precision strike" aimed at "Ukrainian military infrastructure," had been carried out on Monday.

He said further attacks on his "territory" would result in a "very harsh" response.

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