Ukrainian officials say cities across the country are targeted in several waves of strikes.
Image source, Getty ImagesAn air raid alert has been issued across Ukraine, as a fresh wave of Russian strikes several big cities.
Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych wrote on social media that more than 100 missiles had been launched towards Ukrainian cities in “several waves”.
At least two explosions were heard in the capital Kyiv, but it was unclear whether these were caused by missile strikes or air defences.
Blasts were also heard in the cities of Kharkiv, Odesa and Zhytomyr.
Odesa regional leader Maksym Marchenko spoke of a massive missile attack on Ukraine.
Mr Arestovych urged civilians to seek shelter and said the country’s air defences were operating.
Dozens of Russian attacks have pounded Ukraine in recent weeks, causing repeated power cuts across the country. The latest attacks have already sparked power cuts in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk.
“They are introduced due to the threat of missile attacks, in order to avoid significant damage if the enemy manages to hit energy facilities,” the DTEK energy supplier wrote.
Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Military Administration in the central city of Kryvyi Rih, said the missiles had been launched from Russian “ships and planes from the Black Sea”.
He added that power in the city had been switched off as a “precaution”.
Earlier, Ukraine’s southern command had issued a warning that Russian force were preparing to launch up to 20 missiles from positions in the Black Sea.
Moscow has repeatedly denied targeting civilians in its missile strikes. However, President Vladimir Putin has recently admitted that Russian troops have been hitting Ukraine’s critical energy facilities.
The admission followed allegations from some international leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, that targeting energy facilities could amount to a war crime.