Explosions rock Kyiv after Putin accuses Ukraine of attack on bridge

Massive explosions shook the Ukrainian capital and other cities during the morning rush hour on Monday in apparent Russian revenge strikes after President Vladimir Putin declared an explosion on the bridge to Crimea to be a terrorist attack.

The attacks were the most intense to hit the Ukrainian capital since the early days of the war and sent residents fleeing for bomb shelters and thick smoke billowing skywards.

Explosions were also reported in Lviv, Ternopil and Zhytomyr in Ukraine's west, and in Dnipro in central Ukraine.

At one of Kyiv's busiest road junctions, a massive crater had been blown in the intersection.

Cars were blown out, buildings were damaged and emergency workers were on the scene.

Two cars and a van near the crater were completely wrecked, blacked and pitted from shrapnel.

Windows had been blown out of buildings at Kyiv's main Taras Shevchenko University.

National Guard troops in full combat gear and carrying assault rifles were lined up outside an education union building. (Source Reuters)