International Desk: Several large explosions have been heard in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv a day after President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine for a deadly explosion on a key bridge linking Crimea to Russia, reports Al jazeera.

Read more: Putin blames Ukrainian terrorism

The explosions took place around 0815 local time with air raid sirens sounding in the Ukrainian capital more than an hour before the blasts.

Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klitschko on Monday said explosions hit Shevchenkivskyy district in the city centre.

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Ukrainian emergency services said that a number of people were killed and injured in the strikes on Kyiv this morning. It's not clear exactly how many people have died or been hurt, but we will bring you more details as soon as they have it.

Ukraine's defence minister said his country's "courage will never be destroyed by terrorist's missiles, even when they hit the heart of our capital".

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Ukrainian forces retook large areas around Kyiv in early April after Russia abandoned its push towards the capital.

The Russian president has come under increasing pressure after suffering a series of military setbacks in recent weeks. He continued reshuffling his military leadership, appointing a new general to lead the war.

Read more: 3 killed in Crimea bridge blast

Thousands of Russian soldiers retreated from the front-line area in the eastern Luhansk region in recent days, as Ukrainian forces continue to make progress towards Russian-held Kreminna.

Western weaponry has helped the Ukraine military win back more territory in the past month than Russian forces seized in five months.

Sun News/MR

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