On Monday, a massive barrage of Russian strikes targeted vital infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other Ukrainian cities in apparent reprisal for what Moscow claimed was a Ukrainian assault on its Black Sea Fleet over the weekend.

As inhabitants readied for work in the early hours of the morning, explosions could be heard throughout the Ukrainian capital. According to the mayor of Kyiv, 80% of the city's citizens are without water supplies.

A large number of people got text messages from emergency agencies warning of an imminent missile assault, and air raid sirens blared for three hours straight.

The attacks occurred soon before Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and numerous top members of his administration, including the foreign, defense, and interior ministers came to Kyiv as the latest demonstration of solidarity for Ukraine by European leaders.

Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, stated that large portions of the city were left without electricity and water as a result. He stated that local authorities were attempting to rebuild a damaged energy infrastructure that provides electricity to 350 thousand of residents in the capital.

Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, stated that there was no basis for Russia to launch missiles designed to cause so much pain among civilians.

"Do not term these attacks' a response to legitimize them. Russia does this because it still possesses the missiles and the intent to murder Ukrainians, he tweeted.

A large military presence existed north of Kyiv. Smoke was rising from the left side of the Dnieper River, possibly as a result of a missile attack or because Ukrainian forces had shot it down.

A resident reported hearing four huge explosions that shook the region.

"At first, I thought I heard a passing jet, but then I realized it was a missile," said Serhii, who declined to provide his full name. "The explosions were quite loud! I believe myself knowledgeable and prepared for such attacks. However, it was really close and noisy. I was terrified, truly terrified."

Authorities in the outlying region cautioned residents to be prepared for a lengthy power loss due to emergency outages. Governor of the Kyiv region Oleksii Kuleba also reported that one person was injured and several homes were destroyed in the early incident.

According to authorities, two strikes struck important infrastructure facilities in the eastern city of Kharkiv, and the metro suspended operations. Officials also warned of potential power shortages in Zaporizhia as a result of the strikes there.

The western Ukrainian region of Lviv was also targeted, but the missiles were intercepted, according to Lviv Governor Maksym Kozytskyy.

Explosions were also recorded in other regions of Ukraine, including the Cherkasy region southeast of Kyiv, where vital infrastructure facilities were also damaged.