Ukraine war – live: Putin calls Crimea bridge attack ‘act of terrorism’ amid fresh blasts in Kyiv

Vladimir Putin called the blast on a critical Crimea bridge an “act of terrorism” by Ukraine, in his first public response to the damage to Russia’s vital artery to the annexed territory.

“There is no doubt. This is an act of terrorism aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure,” the Russian president said in a video on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel last night.

He said that the attack was “devised, carried out and ordered by the Ukrainian special services”.

Top Russian officials have called for killing of the “terrorists” responsible for the attack.

Early on Monday central Kyiv was rocked by explosions which AP journalists in the Ukrainian capital said appeared to be the result of missile strikes. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

On Sunday, Russia shelled the Ukrainian city Zaporizhzhia, which houses Europe’s largest nuclear plant, killing over a dozen and injuring more than 80 people. It was the third such attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city in just four days.

Key Points

• Several explosions rock Kyiv

• Vladimir Putin accuses Ukraine of attacking Crimea bridge in ‘act of terrorism’

• India says won’t disclose upcoming UN vote on Ukraine

Explosions heard in Kyiv

07:11 , Arpan Rai

Officials have reported at least four explosions this morning from the capital city’s centre today.

Preliminary visuals have confirmed smoke rising from one spot in the Kyiv’s centre.

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Kyiv centre rocked by several blasts, says mayor

Ukraine offensive putting pressure on Russia in northeast and south - MoD

06:52 , Arpan Rai

The British defence ministry has said that the Ukrainian offensive operations continue to add pressure on Russian forces both in the north-east and in Kherson Oblast in the south.

“However, Russia continues to give high priority to its own offensive operations in the central Donbas sector, especially near the town of Bakhmut,” the defence ministry said in an intelligence update today.

It added: “Over the last week Russian forces have advanced up to 2km towards the town on two axes, coming closer to breaking into Bakhmut, which has suffered very extensive damage from shelling.”

These Russian forces, according to the MoD, likely included Wagner private military company units, including personnel recently recruited from Russian prisons.

“Russia’s continued efforts to progress its grinding Donbas offensive, in the face of serious threats on its operational flanks highlight the imperative to deliver operational success while also underlining the inflexible operational design which has undermined its plans thus far,” the ministry said.

Putin directing missile terror on Zaporizhzhia, says Zelensky

06:28 , Arpan Rai

Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of directing Russia’s missile terror on Ukrainian city Zaporizhzhia which has been witnessing relentless shelling in the last four days as a result of blast on the arterial bridge connecting Crimea to Moscow.

“Does the terrorist state want peace? Obviously not. It proves that every day and every night. Zaporizhzhia. One of the Ukrainian cities against which Russia directs its missile terror,” Mr Zelensky said in his late night address on Sunday.

He added that at least 14 people died on Saturday as a result of Russian strikes on ordinary residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia.

“Unfortunately, this number may increase. Debris is still being cleared. More than 70 people were injured, including 11 children. All of them are provided with proper aid. Hundreds of families were left homeless,” he added.

Russia destroyed an entire block from the first to the sixth floor by “one of the missiles - a heavy anti-ship missile Kh-22” by blasting it on a residential building, Mr Zelensky said.

“It was a deliberate strike. The one who gave the order and those who carried it out knew what they were targeting,” he said, adding that the continued series of Russian missile strikes on Zaporizhzhia have killed at least 43 people since 3 October this week alone.

India says won’t disclose upcoming UN vote on Ukraine

06:10 , Arpan Rai

Indian foreign affairs minister S Jaishankar has said that the country does not want to share its vote at the United Nations General Assembly on a draft resolution for condemning Russia’s claim on Ukraine’s annexed territory in advance.

“As a matter of prudence and policy, we don’t predict our votes in advance,” Mr Jaishankar said during a joint media briefing along with Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra.

He added: “We have been very clearly against the conflict in Ukraine. We believe that this conflict does not serve the interests of anybody. Neither the participants nor indeed of the international community.”

The General Assembly is due to vote on the draft resolution on Tuesday or Wednesday, diplomats said.

Russia had vetoed a UN Security Council resolution introduced by the United States and Albania late last month condemning the proclaimed annexation, with China, Gabon, India and Brazil abstaining.

Russia continues shelling Ukrainian city, residential building struck

05:46 , Arpan Rai

Russia has continued attacking Zaporizhzhia and rained shells overnight, destroying a multi-storey apartment building, officials said.

Officials said that the Russian attack has left people injured.

“As a result of a missile attack in the centre of Zaporizhzhia, a multi-storey residential building was destroyed again,” regional governor Oleksandr Starukh said on the Telegram messaging app. “There are injured.”

This comes within hours of an early Sunday strike on the city that killed at least 13 people and injured 87 others, including 10 children.

Vladimir Putin accuses Ukraine of attacking Crimea bridge in ‘act of terrorism’

05:45 , Arpan Rai

Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of carrying out the attack on a key bridge linking Crimea to Russia and labelled it an “act of terrorism”, raising the prospect of harsh retaliation.

The Russian president had initially stopped short of blaming Kyiv for the partial destruction of the bridge – viewed widely as symbolic of Moscow’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014 and a major logistical artery for his troops waging war on Ukraine.

Mr Putin said in a video published by the Kremlin on Sunday night: “There is no doubt. This is an act of terrorism aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure.”

“This was devised, carried out and ordered by the Ukrainian special services,” the Russian president added of the attack on the 18km ( 11 miles) bridge he personally commissioned and opened in 2018.

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Vladimir Putin accuses Ukraine of attacking Crimea bridge in ‘act of terrorism’

04:50 , Arpan Rai

Good morning, welcome to our coverage of the Ukraine war on Monday, 10 October.