The Ukrainian capital Kyiv has been targeted by missile strikes for the first time in months, with central areas struck.

Explosions are reported in many other places across the country in what appears to be the most widespread set of Russian attacks since the early weeks of the war.

At least two blasts were heard in central Kyiv shortly after 08:00 local time (06:00 BST) today, Monday, October 10, 2022, and more have followed.

Ukraine’s defence minister says Russian attacks will not deter Ukrainians from the fight.

The wave of attacks comes two days after the only bridge linking Russia with occupied Crimea was damaged in a blast.

The strikes show that Russia is “trying to destroy us and wipe us off the face of the Earth,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says.

In a Telegram post, Zelensky highlights blasts in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro, saying “the air alarm does not subside throughout Ukraine.”

“Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded,” he adds, before urging his compatriots to stay in shelters.

Russia has not yet commented on this morning’s strikes.

Russia’s President Putin is due to chair a meeting of his security council today to discuss the explosion on the Crimean bridge. (Pieced together from BBC reports)