3 Blasts Rock Kyiv Days After Explosion On Bridge Linkng Russia, Crimea

Three loud blasts were heard in central Kyiv early on Monday, according to AFP journalists in the city, a day after Russia's leader blamed Ukraine for an explosion on a key Crimea bridge.

Ukraine's presidency said on Monday there were strikes on "several" cities in Ukraine, a day after Moscow blamed Kyiv for an explosion on a bridge linking Crimea to Russia.

"Ukraine is under a missile attack. There is information about strikes in many cities of our country," said Kirilo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president's office.

Through social media, he called on residents to "stay in shelters." Kyiv says Russia fired 75 missiles at Ukraine on Monday morning.

The explosions hit Kyiv around 8:15 am local time (0515 GMT) and an AFP journalist in the city saw several ambulances heading towards the site of the explosions.

Kyiv heard at least five explosions on Monday morning.

"Several explosions in the Shevchenkivsky district - the center of the capital," Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media.

Russian strikes have targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure: Zelensky's videos posted on social media showed black smoke billowing over several areas of the city.

Russia's last attack on Kyiv took place on June 26.

The explosions came a day after Moscow blamed Ukraine for the blast on a bridge linking Crimea with Russia, which killed three people.

"The authors, perpetrators and sponsors are the Ukrainian intelligence services," Russian President Vladimir Putin said of Saturday's Crimean Bridge bombing.

which he described as a "terrorist act".

Russian news agencies reported that Vladimir Putin was speaking during a meeting with the head of the investigative committee he had set up to look into the bombing.

The Kremlin told local news agencies that the Russian leader was preparing to hold a meeting with his Security Council later on Monday.

"The president will hold a meeting tomorrow with the permanent members of the Security Council," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The explosion that hit the bridge sparked celebrations in Ukrainians and others on social media.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his evening address on Saturday,

He did not directly mention the incident, and officials in Kyiv did not directly claim responsibility.

Russia said on Saturday that some road and rail traffic had resumed through the strategic link, a symbol of the Kremlin's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The 19 kilometers (12-

miles) a vital supply bridge between Russia and the attached Crimea.

Some military analysts argue that the explosion could have a significant impact if Moscow sees the need to move already heavily pressured forces into Crimea from other areas - or if it prompts the population to leave.

Mick Ryan

Even if Kyiv was not behind the explosion, said a retired senior Australian officer now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, it was a "huge practical win for Ukraine."

“It is a demonstration for the Russians and the rest of the world,

"The Russian army cannot protect any of the provinces it recently annexed," he said on Twitter.

* merciless blows

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that people have been killed and wounded following multiple strikes on cities across Ukraine, including the first on the capital in months.

"The sirens do not stop around Ukraine ... unfortunately there are dead and wounded. Please do not leave the shelters," President Zelensky said on social media, accusing Russia of wanting to "wipe us off the face of the earth."

Meanwhile, President Zelensky denounced a Russian missile strike on Sunday that killed at least 13 people.

One of them is a child, in Zaporizhia - the latest deadly bombing of a southern Ukrainian city.

Also, 89 people, including 11 children, were wounded in the attack, according to a statement issued by the president's office.

Volodymyr Zelensky described the "merciless strikes on peaceful people" and apartment buildings as "absolute evil" perpetrated by "savages and terrorists".

Regional official Oleksandr Staruch posted pictures of heavily damaged apartment blocks on Telegram and said a rescue operation had begun to find victims under the rubble.

Meanwhile, Russian officials on Sunday denounced what they said was an escalation of Ukrainian fires on its territory that hit homes, administrative buildings and a monastery.

An AFP journalist in the city said that one of the projectiles landed near a children's playground, and that smoke was rising from a large crater at the site of the explosion.

Several trees and benches close to the explosion were burnt, while several ambulances arrived in the area.

"The capital is under attack by Russian terrorists!" Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media that the strikes hit the city center.

“If there is no urgent need, it is better not to go into town today.

I also ask the inhabitants of the suburbs about this - do not go to the capital today ”

.

Videos posted on social media showed black smoke rising over several areas of the city.

Russia's FBS, which is responsible for border security, said on Sunday: "Since the beginning of October,

The number of attacks by Ukrainian armed formations on the Russian border lands has increased significantly.

BY
ProBuzzFeed