HORROR NEAR-MISS
Chilling moment Ukrainian girl captures Kyiv missile explosion as she takes selfie yards away from fireball
A YOUNG girl captured the terrifying moment a missile exploded above her head as Kyiv was rocked by a series of blasts.
Multiple explosions struck the capital killing at least eight and wounding 24 just days after Vladimir Putin's prized Crimea bridge was blown up.
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One rocket landed near President Zelensky's office while the BBC reported the missiles have hit more central areas than Russian strikes earlier in the war.
Shocking live footage shows a missile screaming across the sky before smashing into a building in a series of revenge attacks by the Kremlin.
While another video showed a frightened young girl talking to the camera as she walks along the street in an unknown location in Kyiv.
She holds her hand to her mouth while looking to the sky as the horrifying sound of a missile is heard flying overhead.
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She ducks down as a huge orange blast is seen and the sound of debris is heard hitting the floor.
She lets out a chilling cry before running for cover, in the clip released by the .
A spokesperson for the State Emergency Services told the Suspilne public broadcaster that several explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital killing eight and injuring 24 so far.
Horror pictures show civilians drenched in blood receiving medical treatment from emergency services in the capital.
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Bodies of civilians can be seen laying on the ground, surrounded by flaming cars in the aftermath of the attack.
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported explosions in the city's Shevchenko district, a large area in the centre of Kyiv that includes the historic old town as well as several government offices.
President Zelensky said that air raid warnings remained in place after missile strikes were reported in 23 regions across nine major cities.
On Telegram, the President said: "The air alarm does not subside throughout Ukraine. There are missiles striking.
"Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded. Please do not leave shelters.
"Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Let's hold on and be strong."
Speaking during the attacks he claimed Russia was 'trying to wipe us off the map'.
While one of his senior advisors said the strikes showed 'the Kremlin's terrorist inadequacy' after being beaten on the battlefield.
In the video address on social media, Zelensky said Russia had targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure using Iran-made drones.
He added: "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," before adding that "the second target is people".
Ukraine's Armed Forces Commander-in-chief said that Russia had fired 75 missiles in total with 41 being intercepted by air defence systems.
Britain's foreign minister James Cleverly called Russia's firing of missiles into civilian areas of Ukraine "unacceptable."
Posting on Twitter he said: "This is a demonstration of weakness by Putin, not strength."
Explosions were also heard in the centre of Dnipro city while Ukrainian media reported explosions in Lviv, Ternopil and Zhytomyr, Kremenchuk Zaporizhzhia Kharkiv and Kropyvnytskyi.
The blasts follow overnight attacks in Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia and other parts of the country.
Moldova also said that three Russian missiles crossed over into their airspace on Monday.
BRIDGE BLAST
The strikes come just a day after President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of "terrorism" after the Crimean Bridge blast.
The 12-mile-long Kerch Bridge was badly damaged after a truck reportedly exploded, killing three people.
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The humiliating explosion of the bridge has led to furious Russian officials calling for strikes in big cities.
Western officials believe the Russian leader is now seeking revenge for the blast and fear he even might go nuclear.
The Kremlin had previously warned any attack on the Kerch Strait would trigger “judgement day” for Kyiv.
And fears loom in the West about how Putin could seek to escalate the war as he faces defeat in Ukraine.
It was announced the Russian President will also hold a crunch meeting with his inner circle today.
Putin's spokesman confirmed Vlad will chair a meeting of the Security Council just days after the catastrophic explosion on the bridge linking mainland Russia to annexed Crimea.
The Security Council is Russia's top decision-making body on matters of defence and is personally headed up by Putin.
He'll meet with 12 of the most powerful people in Russia, including his defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, and the director of the FSB, Aleksandr Bortnikov.
He held a meeting of the Security Council just days before he invaded Ukraine.
COUNTER-ATTACK
In recent weeks, Ukraine has stormed into Russian-occupied parts of the country taking back key cities and destroying supply lines.
The lightning counter-attack has put Putin's troops on the back foot, with Russian soldiers retreating and abandoning their posts.
As Ukraine continues to blitz across the country, a senior US military official said the country could retake Crimea - annexed by Russia in 2014 - if it continues to recapture territory at this pace.
The source told the : "The recapture of Crimea by Ukraine is now a distinct possibility and can no longer be discounted.
"It is clear that Russia no longer has the ability or willpower to defend key positions, and if the Ukrainians succeed in their goal of recapturing Kherson, then there is a very real possibility that it will ultimately be able to recapture Crimea."
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Meanwhile, Ukraine is continuing to defiantly push back against Putin after he attempted to formally incorporate four parts of Ukraine into Russia in a sham referendum.
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He announced the annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in a rambling speech in what was branded Europe's biggest land grab since World War Two.
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