The explosions took place around 0815 local time, with air raid sirens sounding in the Ukrainian capital more than an hour before the blasts.

A series of terrifying explosions rocked Ukraine’s capital Kyiv early Monday morning, a day after Moscow blamed Ukraine for a deadly blast on the bridge linking Crimea to Russia.

Ukraine’s president said on Monday there were strikes on “many” cities in Ukraine.

All About It:

“Ukraine is under missile attack. There is information about strikes in many cities of our country,” Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president’s office, on social media, asking the fellow country people to “stay in shelters”.

The explosions hit Kyiv around 8:15 am local time, media saw numerous ambulances appearing to head towards the scene of the blasts. Kyiv heard at least five blasts on Monday morning.

“Several explosions in the Shevchenkivskyi district — in the centre of the capital,” Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media.

The explosions came a day after Moscow blamed Ukraine for the explosion on a bridge linking Crimea to Russia, leaving three people dead.

Vladimir Putin was speaking during a meeting with the head of the investigation committee he has set up to look into the bombing, Russian Media Reported.

“Tomorrow the president has a planned meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The blast that hit the bridge sparked celebrations from Ukrainians and others on social media.But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly address on Saturday, did not directly mention the incident, and officials in Kyiv have made no direct claim of responsibility.

The 19-kilometre (12-mile) bridge is a vital supply link between Russia and the annexed Crimean peninsula.

‘Ruthless Strikes’

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that people had been killed and injured following multiple strikes on cities across Ukraine, including the first bombardment on the capital for months.

“Air raid sirens are not subsiding 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 from the face of the Earth”.

The attack also wounded 89 people, including 11 children, according to a statement from the president’s office.

Volodymyr Zelensky described the “merciless strikes on peaceful people” and residential buildings as “absolute evil” perpetrated by “savages and terrorists”.

“The capital is under Russian terrorists’ attack!” Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media, adding that the strikes had hit the city centre.

“If there is no urgent need, it is better not to go to the city today. I am also asking the residents of the suburbs about this — do not go to the capital today.”