Kyiv, Ukraine - Warning maps showed that air alerts sounded across several parts of Ukraine on Friday as Russia launched a large surge of missile attacks that forced some Ukrainians into subway stations for shelter.

There were also reports of explosions in the capital Kyiv. The air defense was reportedly employed to counter the attacks.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the attacks on the Telegram messaging service and called on people to seek shelter.

Many regions reported rocket fire, including Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Dnepropetrovsk, and Kharkiv.

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According to the report, Russia again targeted the energy infrastructure, a tactic that it has been using for the past months to devastating effect.

It was initially unclear whether there were victims and how extensive the damage was.

The Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine also reported rocket fire.

In the village of Lantratovka in the Luhansk region, eight people were reportedly killed and 20 injured by Ukrainians, said the Russian state news agency Tass, which quoted local rescue services. The information could not be independently verified.

"Explosions in Desnyan district of the capital. Stay in shelters!" Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on Telegram on Friday morning local time, before announcing that all subway traffic had been stopped to allow residents to shelter in the stations.

"Due to damage to the energy infrastructure, there are interruptions in water supply in all areas of the capital. Specialists are working to stabilize the system. Just in case, prepare a supply of drinking and technical water," he added.

Water, heating, and lighting systems are down in Kyiv after Friday's bombardment by Russian forces, the heaviest for in weeks.

Power is out in extensive parts of the country after the latest wave of attacks aimed at Ukraine's critical civilian infrastructure.

Still, Ukraine's air defences managed to stop the majority of the missiles, with the military reporting that 60 out of 76 rockets had been shot down.

Forty of the rockets were aimed at Kiev alone, the capital's military authorities said. Thirty-seven were shot down.