RUSSIAN forces have launched a major attack on Kyiv, with initial reports saying apartment blocks sustained further damage.
Missiles bombarded the Ukrainian capital and other major cities in its latest offensive early on Tuesday morning, with witnesses reporting loud explosions throughout the city.
Terrifying video footage has revealed the moment of explosion, as drones and missiles rain down on the sleeping city.
Bright flashes of light could be seen as the Russian explosives made contact with buildings, with one video showing the top floor of an apartment building on fire.
The flames can be seen from the ground, making the inside of the flat glow a spine-chilling red.
Other videos show the moment of the blasts, with bright white light flashing into the night sky, as well as drones being spotted floating through the air before exploding.
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Air defences were activated around 12.30am in Kyiv, according to the Kyiv Independent, where the explosions were recorded shortly afterwards.
Both missiles and drones have been deployed in the shock strike, according to Reuters reports.
The missile attack lasted for at least an hour.
Tymur Tkachenko – the head of the city’s military administration – said several apartment buildings, an education centre and a commercial building had been damaged.
The Telegram message said the attacks had so far been focused on districts east of the Dnipro River.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has deployed emergency medical crews to the affected areas of the city.
Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, also reported attacks from Russian missiles and drones in his city, located in northeastern Ukraine.
The Tuesday strike signals the end of the brief energy ceasefire, where Moscow had agreed to temporarily stop striking Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure.
These latest attacks come just hours after one of Vladimir Putin’s top cronies warned of a “catastrophic nuclear war”.
The Russian tyrant’s favourite nuclear loudmouth has warned the country could unleash its doomsday arsenal if the Kremlin believes the survival of Russia is at stake.
Dmitry Medvedev said nukes would be used if it “came to the fate of the country”, in a chilling new threat aired on pro-Kremlin TV.
“Nuclear weapons are extraordinary and exceptionally dangerous for the fate of all humanity, but at the same time, if it comes to the fate of a country, then there should be no doubt for anyone,” Medvedev told TASS.
The ex-president, now Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, claimed Moscow was not interested in starting a global conflict because “Russians are not insane”.
Pressed on whether the Kremlin had discussed using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, Medvedev dodged the question, insisting Russia “acts strictly in accordance with its nuclear doctrine”, where everything is already spelled out.
He added that the fact Moscow has not yet gone nuclear proves there has been no “dangerous threat” to Russia – despite nearly four years of war, mass casualties and relentless bombardment of Ukrainian cities.
Just days ago, US president Donald Trump said he had personally asked Putin to stop attacking Kyiv.
Despite the supposed truce, Russia has continued to launch fatal attacks on Ukrainian cities, leaving civilian casualties in their trail of destruction.
The Kremlin previously said it would stop targeting energy facilities, but only until February 1.