Russia attacks key infrastructure in barrage of strikes, Ukrainian officials say

Ukrainian officials reported a barrage of Russian strikes on critical infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities on Monday morning.

In the capital, ITV News captured footage of an explosion and billowing smoke towards the north.

"Heard around eight explosions in Kyiv this morning - and can see smoke rising across the city," Global Security Editor Rohit Kachroo tweeted.

Part of the Kyiv was cut off from power and water supplies as a result of the attacks, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said.

Officials also reported possible power outages in the cities of Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia resulting from the strikes that hit critical infrastructure there.

"Our ITV News team were woken by a Monday morning missile barrage, eight, nine, perhaps 10 blasts across the city," says ITV News Global Security Editor Rohit Kachroo.

Critical infrastructure objects were also hit in the Cherkasy region southeast of Kyiv, and explosions were reported in other regions of Ukraine. In the Kirovohrad region of central Ukraine, the energy facility was hit, according to local authorities.

In Vinnytsia, a missile that was shot down landed on civilian buildings, resulting in damage but no casualties, according to regional governor Serhii Borzov.

In Kharkiv, the subway ceased operating. Some parts of Ukrainian railways were also cut off from power, the national rail company reported.

The attack comes two days after Russia accused Ukraine of a drone attack against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet off the coast of the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine has denied the attack, saying that Russia mishandled its own weapons, but Moscow still announced halting its participation in a UN-brokered deal to allow safe passage of ships carrying grain from Ukraine.

Commenting on Monday's attacks, the head of Ukraine's presidential office Andriy Yermak said that Russian forces “continue to fight with civilian facilities”.

“We will persevere, and generations of Russians will pay a high price for their disgrace,” Mr Yermak said.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know

It's the second time this month that Russia unleashed a massive barrage of strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. On October 10, a similar attack rocked the war-torn country following an explosion on the Kerch Bridge linking the annexed Crimea to mainland Russia - an incident Moscow blamed on Kyiv.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Monday the authorities were working to restore a damaged energy facility that supplies power to 350,000 apartments in Kyiv.

Deputy head of the presidential office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said urgent power shutdowns were being carried out after “Russian terrorists once again launched a massive strike on energy facilities in a number of Ukrainian regions".