Ukraine invasion: Russia's air strike has no military effect, meant to devastate civilians - security expert

A security expert says Russia's air strikes against Ukraine will have no effect on the military but rather targeted civilians.

Russia launched its most widespread air strikes since the start of the Ukraine invasion on Monday (local time).

More than 80 missiles reportedly rained across major Ukrainian cities during rush hour, killing at least 10 people.

Explosions were reported in Lviv, Ternopil and Zhytomyr in western Ukraine, Dnipro and Kremenchuk in central Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia in the south and Kharkiv in the east.

Newshub Europe Correspondent Lisette Reymer told AM live from Lviv it has been a "hugely horrific and alarming day for all Ukrainians".

Reymer said many cities, including Lviv, are without electricity and water. 

She said many Ukrainians have been forced to shelter underground and are once again fearing for their lives.

Russia's defence ministry said the missile attack was targeting Ukrainian military, communications and energy infrastructure, but international security expert John Erath said most damage was done to civilian infrastructure.

"Clearly the object is not to gain a military goal but to increase the hardship on Ukrainian people," Erath told Melissa Chan-Green on AM.

Erath said the damage, while catastrophic for civilians, won't impact the effectiveness of Ukraine's military.

The strike was a retaliation to the blowing up of the Crimean Bridge, which is assumed to have been carried out by Ukraine.

Erath said the bridge has huge symbolic value to Russia, as it physically links Russia to Crimea, which was seized from Ukraine in 2014.

"It's a symbolic strike for a symbolic blow to the Russian prestige," Erath said.

Nuclear threat

Despite the large revenge act from Russia, Erath said nuclear war is still unlikely.

"Russia has always been unlikely to use nuclear weapons," he said.

Erath said it is difficult to imagine what military objective would be achieved by the use of nuclear weapons at this point in the war and Russia would be too worried about the impacts a nuclear attack would have on the few allies it has left.  

"Everyone knows just how horrific a nuclear weapon would be and I think the Russians are very well aware of this and are very well aware that they still need some support."