A car in Bakhmut in the Donbas region where Ukraine is fighting back (Picture: Reuters)
A barrage of Russian bombings has knocked out power and water supplies in a number of Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv.
Missiles and drones hit ten regions and damaged 18 sites, mostly energy facilities, Ukraine’s prime minister Denys Shmyhal said. The country’s air force said it had shot down 44 of more than 50 cruise missiles launched.
Emergency power shutdowns were instigated in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.
In Kyiv, explosions were heard as residents prepared to go to work with air raid sirens wailing for three hours.
At least one person was injured in the strikes, which damaged houses and left 80 per cent of people in the city of 3million without water.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said repairs were under way but advised people to stock up on water from the nearest pump rooms and points of sale.
Ukrainians check their phones as they wait out the shelling at a metro station in Kyiv (Picture: EPA)
Serhii, a Kyiv resident, said: ‘At first, I thought I heard a jet going by but then I realised it was a missile. The explosions were so loud. I consider myself experienced and prepared for attacks like this. But it was way too close and loud. I was frightened.’
Russia claimed it had used long-range precision weapons against the military command and energy systems.
More: News
But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s office said: ‘We will persevere and generations of Russians will pay a high price for their disgrace.’ The attacks came two days after Russia accused Ukraine of a drone strike against its Black Sea Fleet off the coast of Crimea, which Ukraine has denied.
Meanwhile, Turkey has said it is determined to press ahead with a deal to allow safe passage of ships carrying grain from Ukraine, despite Russia halting its participation.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
Missiles and drones hit ten regions and damaged 18 sites.
