LIVE UPDATES

This is CNBC’s live blog tracking developments on the war in Ukraine. See below for the latest updates. 

Multiple explosions hit the center of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv Monday, with reports of dead and injured, according to the city’s emergency services.

It comes just two days after a blast destroyed part of Russia’s Kerch Bridge, the only bridge linking Russia to the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to convene a meeting of his national security council and has called the Kerch Bridge explosion a “terrorist attack” carried out by Ukraine.

Multiple cities across Ukraine hit by missile attacks

Several Ukrainian cities have been hit by what officials are describing as a wave of missile attacks — as far west as the city of Lviv, largely considered one of the safest parts of the country.

Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv and Vinnytsia, among other cities, have all reported explosions.

“Kyiv region and Khmelnytsky region, Lviv and Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Frankiv region, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy region, Kharkiv region, Zhytormyr region, Kirovohrad region, the south,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram. He described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “terrorist” targeting civilians.

At least 8 people in Kyiv have been killed and two dozen injured, according to the city’s emergency services.

— Natasha Turak

Three more explosions hit central Kyiv; at least 8 dead and 24 wounded

Three more explosions hit Kyiv within an hour of the initial blasts Monday, which Ukrainian officials say were timed to maximize civilian casualties during the morning rush hour.

At least eight people have been killed and 24 have been wounded, NBC’s Cal Perry reported, citing Kyiv’s emergency services.

Critical infrastructure as well as residential areas including parks, university grounds, a residential building and a pedestrian bridge were hit, according to city officials and NBC reporters on the ground.

Ukrainian parliament member Lesia Vasylenko posted a photo on Twitter of a street, buildings and emergency vehicles shrouded in smoke, with the text: “Just minutes from my home. Just 20 minutes ago. What is Russia trying to hit? The national university? The park? Or the playground?”

Moscow has not yet commented on the blasts.

— Natasha Turak

Ukrainian officials urge people to stay in shelters in Kyiv as explosions continue

Ukrainian officials are urging residents of Kyiv and other cities to stay in shelters in the wake of multiple strikes on the capital, which emergency services say have caused deaths and injuries. Reports are emerging of explosions in several other cities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on his official Telegram account: “The air alarm does not stop throughout Ukraine. There are missiles hitting. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded. I beg you: do not leave shelters. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Let’s hold on and be strong.”

“The air attack continues, I ask everyone to remain calm and stay in shelters,” Kyiv governor Oleksiy Kuleba wrote on Telegram.

“Air defense works in the region,” Kuleba continued. “There is information about downed objects. I emphasize that the air alert is still ongoing. Don’t ignore it and stay in cover. Do not photograph or film landing sites or damaged infrastructure. People’s lives depend on it. Let’s hold on.”

The initial strikes on central Kyiv took place around 8:30 a.m. local time during the morning rush hour.

— Natasha Turak

Several large explosions hit Kyiv city center

Several large blasts hit the center of Ukrainian capital Kyiv Monday, according to witnesses and city officials, after

State Emergency Services told Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne that the explosions had caused causing deaths and injuries, according to Reuters, though the casualty number is unknown.

“Several explosions in the Shevchenkiv district – in the center of the capital. All services follow to place. Details later,” Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitchko said on Telegram, according to a Google translation.

Ukrainians had been bracing themselves for a retaliatory attack after an explosion destroyed part of Russia’s Kerch bridge on Saturday, the only bridge connecting Russia to the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed illegally in 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the bridge explosion a “terrorist attack” and accused Ukrainian forces of being behind it.

— Natasha Turak

Putin calls Kerch bridge destruction a ‘terrorist attack’

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to convene his national security council Monday to focus on the explosion that destroyed part of Russia’s Kerch bridge — the only bridge connecting the country to the Crimean Peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014.

Putin has called the blast on the strategically important infrastructure a “terrorist attack” and blamed it on Ukrainian special services. Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but Ukrainian several state agencies mocked Russia over the event.

There are worries among Russia watchers that the meeting will be used to escalate the war with Ukraine, and comes just weeks after Putin threatened to use all means at his disposal — which includes nuclear weapons — to defend Russian territory.

— Natasha Turak