Russian defense ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov affirmed, on Monday, that "the Russian aviation has gained dominance in the airspace over the entire territory of Ukraine."

The Russian military destroyed eight Buk M-1 combat vehicles, S-300 and Buk M-1 air defense systems, three radio positions with P-14 stations, four combat aircraft on the ground, and one in the air over the past day, according to the official, who added that they have also hit 1,114 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities since the special military operation began.

Earlier, Ukraine's State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection said that blasts were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev and in the major city of Kharkiv on Monday morning.

The Ukrainian capital had been quiet for a few hours prior, according to a brief statement posted on the Telegram messaging app.

In satellite imagery taken on Sunday, a 5-kilometer column of Russian troops and tanks could be seen "moving towards Kiev."

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In a separate statement, the agency said a residential building in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv had caught fire after being hit by a missile.

Maxar Technologies, a space technology company, released images showing a large deployment of Russian ground troops moving in the direction of the Ukrainian capital from about 64 kilometers away.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent to Crimea reported that "the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the government in Ukraine has lost its legitimacy." 

Meanwhile, our correspondent to Kiev quoted the mayor of the Ukrainian city of Berdyansk as announcing that "all official buildings in the city fell into the hands of the Russian forces."

The Russian Defense Ministry has organized a safe passage for Ukrainian civilians fleeing Kiev: The passage allows Ukrainians to take the highway to Vasilkov, a city 20 kilometers southwest of the capital, according to a statement issued on Monday, adding that "this direction is open and safe."

Russia has for months been warning of the threat posed against it by NATO's attempts to expand eastward, which happened simultaneously with an increase in NATO military activity along Russia's borders, and batches of lethal weapons being sent to Ukraine, prompting Russia to request security guarantees from the West. Washington failed to provide the guarantees.