In response to the Crimean Bridge bombing, and in Russia's most extensive air attack since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia showered Ukrainian cities with cruise missiles

on Monday, cutting off electricity and heating from large areas, what the United States called "terrible strikes."

US President Joe Biden strongly condemned the missile bombing of several Ukrainian cities, saying it "demonstrated the utter brutality" of the "illegal" war being fought by Russian President Vladimir Putin

"These attacks killed and wounded civilians and destroyed pointless targets militarily," Biden said in a statement.

Rockets hit intersections of major roads, parks and tourist sites in downtown Kiev with intensity

There were also reports of explosions in Lviv, Ternoble and Zetomir in western Ukraine, Dnipro and Kremenchuk in the centre of the country, Zaporeggia in the south and Kharkiv in the east

According to Ukrainian officials, at least 10 people were killed and dozens injured, and electricity was cut off from large areas of the country.

Putin said in a television address that he had ordered "large-scale" long-range strikes targeting Ukraine's energy, command and communications sectors, using missiles fired from the air, sea and land, in response to what he described as terrorist attacks, including Saturday's explosion on Crimea Bridge in the Kerch Strait.

Putin added: "The Kiev regime, by its actions, has placed itself at the level of international terrorist organizations. With the most abhorrent groups, leaving such acts unanswered is simply impossible ", threatening further blows in the future if Ukraine hits Russian territory

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday's rush-hour attacks were aimed at deliberately killing people and disrupting Ukraine's power grid.

The Prime Minister said the strikes struck 11 major infrastructure targets in eight regions, resulting in power, water or heating cuts in large areas of the country