October 10, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Tara Subramaniam, Sana Noor Haq, Ed Upright and Aditi Sangal, CNN

Updated 12:31 a.m. ET, October 11, 2022

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3:12 a.m. ET, October 10, 2022

Zelensky says Russians are "trying to annihilate us" after attacks Monday morning

From CNN's Tim Lister and Josh Pennington

Amid multiple explosions in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities early Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was trying to annihilate Ukraine.

"This is the 229th day of the full-scale war. This is the 229th day they are trying to annihilate us and wipe us off the face of the earth. That's it, in a nutshell," Zelensky said on Telegram.

"They are trying to slaughter our people who are sleeping in their homes in Zaporizhzhia. They are trying to kill people who are on their way to work in Dnipro and Kyiv.

"All over Ukraine, the air raid sirens will not abate. Rockets continue to strike. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded. I ask you: do not leave your shelters. Stay safe and take care of your families. Let's hang in there and be strong."

Some context: Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that strikes hit the Shevchenkivskyi and Solomianskyi districts of the city and advised residents to take shelter. CNN's teams on the ground have heard at least four explosions in the city on Monday morning.

3:18 a.m. ET, October 10, 2022

Mayor warns Kyiv residents to remain in shelters after attacks

From CNN's Angus Watson

Cars burn after a Russian military strike in central Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 10. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

The mayor of Kyiv on Monday urged the city's residents to remain in shelters following a suspected rocket or missile attack on the Ukrainian capital.

“The air raid alert, and therefore the threat, continues,” Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram.

“I appeal to all residents of the capital: stay in shelters during the alarm. If there is no urgent need, it is better not to go to the city today.”

Klitschko confirmed strikes hit the Shevchenkivskyi and Solomianskyi districts of Kyiv.

Earlier, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister said the red line of Kyiv’s metro system is being used as a bomb shelter.

At least four explosions have been heard by CNN teams in Kyiv on Monday. A playground is among the sites hit, according to Ukrainian officials.

3:32 a.m. ET, October 10, 2022

Children's playground hit in Kyiv attack, Ukrainian official says

From CNN's Angus Watson

Several explosions have hit the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on October 10. (Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

A children’s playground was among the sites hit by a rocket or missile attack on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Monday morning.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs, posted photos on Twitter Monday of what appears to be a playground with the caption: “Children's playground in the center of Kyiv after the attack.”

At least four explosions have been heard by CNN teams in Kyiv on Monday.

2:42 a.m. ET, October 10, 2022

At least 4 explosions heard in Kyiv Monday

From CNN's Angus Watson and Frederik Pleitgen

At least four explosions have been counted by CNN teams in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday.

CNN teams on the ground heard the first two explosions between 8:15 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. local time.

Two more explosions were heard in central Kyiv at about 9:30am local time, according to CNN teams on the ground.

2:24 a.m. ET, October 10, 2022

European leaders condemn Russia's deadly missile attacks on Zaporizhzhia

From CNN's Mariya Knight

A firefighter looks at a building that was heavily damaged after a Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia on October 9. (Leo Correa/Associated Press)

European leaders have criticized Russian missile attacks on residential buildings that have left scores of civilians dead and wounded in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia over the past week.

Ukrainian officials reported more casualties early on Monday after a Russian missile strike destroyed an apartment block.

Top European Union diplomat Josep Borrell said: "The EU condemns Russia's relentless attacks against civilians all over Ukraine, with dozens of victims every week. All those responsible will be held to account."

The European Commissioner for Crisis Response Janez Lenarcic also reacted to the attacks, saying, "Civilians and civilian infrastructure must not be the target. Never. Nowhere."

Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attacks on Zaporizhzhia a “New outburst of Russian evil - a terrible overnight attack by Russia on civilians in Zaporizhzhia."

"As Russia continues its terror, we must continue providing support to Ukraine to be able to defend itself. Russia must stop this war!” the ministry added.

The attacks have also been condemned by the foreign ministries of Belgium, Romania, Croatia and North Macedonia.

"This is another vicious and inhumane attack against civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law. Those responsible must be held accountable," Romania's Foreign ministry tweeted.

3:24 a.m. ET, October 10, 2022

Explosions heard in Ukraine's capital Kyiv

From CNN's Angus Watson

Explosions on the streets of central Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 10. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

Two explosions were heard in the center of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday morning, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

“All services are on the location,” Klitschko wrote on Telegram.

CNN teams on the ground heard two explosions between 8:15 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. local time.

1:36 a.m. ET, October 10, 2022

Casualties reported after Russian missile attack destroys apartment block in Zaporizhzhia city

From CNN's Jonny Hallam and Josh Pennington

Rescuers work at a site of a residential area heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in Zaporizhzhia on October 9. Reuters

Ukrainian officials reported casualties in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia early on Monday after a Russian missile strike destroyed an apartment block.

In a Telegram post, Oleksandr Starukh, head of the Zaporizhzhia regional military administration said: "Another multi-story residential building was destroyed as a result of a rocket attack in the center of Zaporizhzhia."

"There are some casualties," he added. "Rescuers, medics, and all corresponding services are working at the scene of the tragedy. All necessary assistance is being provided to the victims."

Some context: Dozens of people have been killed and wounded in Russian missile attacks on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia over the past week. The city is not far from the front line, and the site of a nuclear power plant that the international community is watching warily.

Part of the wider region is occupied by Russian forces and last week Russian President Vladimir Putin signed measures to annex four areas of Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia, in violation of international law.

Moscow denies that it has deliberately attacked civilians.

9:50 a.m. ET, October 10, 2022

Here's the latest on the Crimea bridge explosion

From CNN staff

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree strengthening the defenses of the only bridge connecting annexed Crimea to the Russian mainland after a huge blast early Saturday severely damaged the structure.

Here's the background:

The blast: A huge explosion severely damaged the only bridge connecting annexed Crimea to the Russian mainland, causing parts of the structure to collapse. At least three people were were killed, according to Russian officials. Putin called the explosions a “terrorist attack” and said the organizers and executors were “Ukrainian special services.”
Ukrainian leaders celebrate: While stopping short of claiming responsibility, high-ranking Ukrainian officials publicly celebrated the explosion on the 19-kilometer (about 12 miles) long structure, which is Europe's longest bridge. Ukraine's secretary of the National Security and Defense Council posted a taunting birthday message for Putin and the postal service announced stamps commemorating the blast. In Kyiv, residents posed for selfies in front of a billboard depicting the burning bridge.
The damage: Maxar satellite images captured the damage to the Kerch Strait bridge Saturday, shortly after an explosion rocked the only direct road and rail connection between annexed Crimea and mainland Russia. The blast caused parts of the bridge to collapse, though Russian transportation officials restarted rail service and allowed vehicles to use some undamaged portions of the roadway by Saturday evening. The blast disrupted major transport links, however, and Russian officials planned to use ferries for trucks.
Repair work to begin: On Saturday, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said the lights on the Crimea bridge were set to be restored in the next few hours so that repair works could be carried out around the clock. Khusnullin added that divers would start work on Sunday to check all the supports of the bridge. Once all results are received, a decision will be made to open traffic on the bridge for buses and heavy vehicles.
Kremlin rules out nuclear response: Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold an operational meeting of his Security Council on Monday following the explosion. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Sunday dismissed the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons in retaliation for the blast.

3:44 a.m. ET, October 10, 2022

Medvedev vows "direct destruction of terrorists" after hit on bridge

From CNN's Katharina Krebs

Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev attends a military parade on Victory Day in central Moscow, Russia, on May 9. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia will destroy the “terrorists” responsible for the attack on the Kerch bridge in Crimea on Saturday.

In an interview with Russian journalist Nadana Friedrichson Sunday, Medvedev said the hit on the crucial artery was a “terror attack” carried out by “the failed state of Ukraine.”

"Russia's response to this crime can only be the direct destruction of terrorists, just as other countries would react. This is exactly what the citizens of Russia are waiting for,” Medvedev said. "This is a terrorist act and sabotage committed by the criminal Kyiv regime. There was never any doubt about this. All reports and conclusions have been made."

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold an operational meeting of his Security Council on Monday, following the blast on the bridge. Putin has also called the explosions a “terrorist attack” and said the organizers and executors were “Ukrainian special services.” While stopping short of claiming responsibility, high-ranking Ukrainian officials have publicly celebrated the explosion.