Russia has launched a “massive strike” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Kyiv’s energy minister has claimed.

Huge explosions were seen in several cities across the country, with Herman Halushchenko alleging that the Russian strikes were “taking place all over Ukraine.”

People in affected areas have been told to take shelter as emergency power outages are implemented.

This comes after Russia has hit Ukraine with around 1,500 strikes in recent days.

On Thursday, Ukrainians were given an air raid warning “due to the threat of missile danger”.

The warnings were issued for Kyiv, Rivne, Vinnytsia, Kropyvnytskyi, Balta, Mykolaiv and other regions in Ukraine.

The mayor of Kharkiv, Igor Terekhov, also reported strikes in the city, as did officials from Sumy and Volyn.

The war in Ukraine escalated last week when Russia used a new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile to strike Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin authorised the use of the missile after Ukraine fired British and American missiles at targets in Russian territory for the first time.

As a result of the UK’s support for Ukraine, Russia has also threatened to attack the UK.

Former MI6 chief, Sir Richard Dearlove, told Sky News that the UK is now in an actual war with Russia,

He said: “I think we have to face up to the fact that the Russians think they’re in a state of war with us.

“Donald Tusk has referred to it as a pre-war situation. I think he’s wrong. I think it’s an actual war.

“We’ve seen already quite clearly some very aggressive moves on the part of the Russians in various European countries.”

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