The incident came just two days after Russia accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack off the coast of the occupied Crimean Peninsula against Russia's Black Sea Fleet

On Monday morning, a heavy barrage of Russian strikes attacked crucial infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other major cities of Ukraine in apparent retaliation for the attack on its Black Sea Fleet.

In the early hours of the morning, people in Ukraine's capital heard loud explosions as they prepared to go to work. Some of them received text messages from emergency agencies warning of a missile attack and air raid sirens screamed for three hours straight.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said large portions of the city were cut off from power and water supply. However, local authorities were trying to repair a damaged energy complex that feeds power to 350,000 units in the capital.

According to the officials, missiles targeted vital infrastructure facilities in Kharkiv and the subway that suspended operations. Officials also warned of potential power disruptions in Zaporizhzhia due to the strikes.

Critical infrastructure was also struck in the Cherkasy region southeast of Kyiv and explosions were reported in other parts of Ukraine too. 

According to local authorities, the energy complex in the Kirovohrad region of central Ukraine was attacked.

Ukrainian Railways said several portions of the country's railways were also without power.

The incident came just two days after Russia accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack off the coast of the occupied Crimean Peninsula against Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Ukraine ruled out its involvement in the attack and said Russia mismanaged its weaponry. Still, Moscow has announced that it will withdraw from an UN-brokered arrangement to allow ships carrying grain from Ukraine to pass safely.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, commented on Monday's attacks, saying that Russian soldiers are still fighting with civilian institutions. “We shall persevere, and generations of Russians will pay a hefty price for their disgrace,” he added. 

Russia has launched a tremendous barrage of strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure for the second time this month.

On 10 October, a similar attack was carried out on Ukraine after an explosion on the Kerch Bridge, which connects seized Crimea to mainland Russia.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the presidential office, claimed that urgent power shutdowns were being carried out after Russia launched another big attack on energy facilities in several Ukrainian districts.