KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — The head of the Ukrainian military said Monday that Russian forces launched at least 75 missiles at Ukraine on Monday morning, with fatal strikes targeting the capital Kyiv, and cities in the south and west.
“The terrorist country, Russia, has carried out massive missile and air strikes on the territory of Ukraine, also using attack drones. In the morning, the aggressor launched 75 missiles. 41 of them were shot down by our air defense,” General Valeriy Zaluzhny said on social media.
“This morning is difficult. We are dealing with terrorists. Dozens of missiles and Iranian Shaheds. They have two targets. Energy facilities throughout the country… They want panic and chaos, they want to destroy our energy system,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on social media, adding that “the second target is people.”
“Air raid sirens are not subsiding around Ukraine… Unfortunately there are dead and wounded. Please do not leave the shelters,” Zelensky said.
“Ukraine is under missle attack. There is information about strikes in many cities of our country,” Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the president’s office, said on social media, calling on the population to “stay in shelters.”
“The capital is under Russian terrorists’ attack!” Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media, adding that the strikes had hit the city center.
In Kyiv, AFP reporters heard several loud explosions starting at around 8:15 a.m. local time — during Monday morning rush hour.
The missile attack came a day after Moscow blamed Ukraine for an explosion on a bridge connecting Crimea to Russia.
Russia’s last strike on Kyiv took place on 26 June.