Several blasts shook Kyiv, days after Russia blamed Ukraine for drone assaults. (File)

Kyiv:

Ukraine suffered sweeping blackouts and water provides had been lower for 80 p.c of Kyiv residents on Monday after what Ukrainian officers known as one other “massive” Russian missile assault on vitality services.

“More than 50” cruise missiles had been launched at targets throughout the nation early on Monday, the Ukrainian military stated on Telegram.

“From 7:00 am (0500 GMT) on October 31, Russian occupiers carried out several waves of missile attacks against critical infrastructure in Ukraine,” the military stated, including that “44 missiles” had been shot down.

Several blasts shook the capital Kyiv, days after Russia blamed Ukraine for drone assaults on its Crimea fleet within the Black Sea.

“Currently, due to the emergency situation in Kyiv, 80 percent of consumers remain without water supply,” town’s mayor Vitali Klitschko stated on Telegram.

“Engineers are also working to restore power to 350,000 homes in Kyiv that were left without electricity,” he added.

At least 5 explosions had been heard within the metropolis between 8:00 am and eight:20 am native time, in response to AFP journalists.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated there have been energy cuts in “hundreds” of city settlements throughout seven Ukrainian areas.

“Russian terrorists have again launched a massive attack against electricity installations,” stated the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidency, Kyrylo Tymoshenko.

‘Cold winter forward’

Near one of many websites focused north of Kyiv, a soldier informed AFP that three missiles had struck.

“It is dangerous here because there could be more strikes,” the soldier stated at a blocked crossroads.

In a close-by city, Mila Ryabova, 39, informed AFP she was woken by between eight and 10 “powerful explosions”.

“We were together with my family, preparing my daughter for school, but now there is no electricity in our house and at school,” stated Ryabova, a translator.

“I’m not afraid of anything. (Some people) are still in shelters now, but not us.

“But we’re worrying and speaking about alternatives to maneuver overseas, as a result of there’s a chilly winter forward. We could not have electrical energy, warmth provide. It might be arduous to deal with, particularly with a small little one.”

Similar attacks targeted infrastructure across Ukraine, including Lviv in the west, Zaporizhzhia in the south and Kharkiv in the northeast.

The Moldovan government said a Russian missile shot down by Ukrainian air defences fell on a village in northern Moldova on Monday, but without causing any injuries.

The country’s interior ministry said the missile fell on the village of Naslavcea close to the Ukrainian border.

“Instead of preventing on the battlefield, Russia fights civilians,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Twitter.

Grain deal

Monday’s attack comes after Russia pulled out of a landmark agreement that allowed vital grain shipments via a maritime safety corridor.

The July deal to unlock grain exports signed between warring nations Russia and Ukraine — and brokered by Turkey and the United Nations — is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the conflict.

But Russia announced Saturday it would pull out of the deal after accusing Kyiv of a “huge” drone attack on its Black Sea fleet, which Ukraine labelled a “false pretext”.

Sevastopol in Moscow-annexed Crimea has been targeted several times in recent months and serves as the fleet’s headquarters and a logistical hub for operations in Ukraine.

Despite Russia’s decision to exit the deal, two cargo ships loaded with grain and other agricultural products left Ukrainian ports on Monday, according to a marine traffic website.

Twelve ships were due to leave Ukraine on Monday and four were to head to the country, per the Joint Coordination Center that has been overseeing the agreement.

“Civilian cargo ships can by no means be a navy goal or held hostage. The meals should circulate,” Amir Abdulla, UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, said on Twitter.

“More than two million tons of meals” were at sea, but stalled by Russia’s actions, Zelensky said in his evening address on Sunday.

“This is a fully clear intention of Russia to return the specter of large-scale famine to Africa and Asia,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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