Vladimir Putin has issued his latest threat following US media reports that the Biden administration had discussed returning nuclear weapons to Ukraine. Meanwhile, around 24,000 mortar shells being used by Ukraine have been withdrawn.

Russia’s widespread overnight attack targeting critical energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine was a response to strikes on Russian territory using US-made ATACMS missiles, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

Russian attacks have not so far struck government buildings in the Ukrainian capital. Air defences heavily protect Kyiv, but Putin says Russia’s Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which it fired for the first time at a Ukrainian city last week, is incapable of being intercepted.