As missiles rained down on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, many people took refuge in underground metro stations.

With intermittent internet, they were able to read news reports about what was happening outside, as Moscow took its revenge for the weekend’s destruction of the Kerch Bridge.

While many fell silent, others sang folk songs to pass the time.

One of those finding safety on Monday morning was Oleh Maksymiak, the 21-year-old assistant to Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun.

Mr Maksymiak told PA news agency that he had been travelling into Kyiv from his home in Lviv at about 11.30am when the air siren went off.

“We were standing in the subway, there was nowhere to sit, because there were too many people.

“The network was bad, I couldn’t call my relatives, like many of the people present.

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“We sometimes (when the internet appeared) read the news about what was happening outside, mainly it was constant reports about new explosions, and that’s why everyone was sad, some of the people even cried.”

Mr Maksymiak said a woman began to sing and was joined by at least 40 people.

He thinks the voice belonged to an opera singer, as she had an “operatic voice”.

“It was an incredible atmosphere,” he said.

“I think she wanted to cheer everyone up.

“After that, everyone applauded and shouted ‘glory to Ukraine – glory to the heroes’.

“I would even say it united our spirit.”

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