Vladimir Putin has vowed to continue attacking Ukrainian energy systems in comments at a champagne reception in the Kremlin.

"There's a lot of noise about our strikes on the energy infrastructure of a neighbouring country. Yes, we do that. But who started it?" the Russian president said at an awards ceremony.

Putin added that global criticism of strikes that have left millions without electricity and water at the start of winter would "not interfere with our combat missions”.

He justified the move by accusing Kyiv of blowing up power lines from the Kursk nuclear power plant and not supplying water to Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

"Not supplying water to a city of more than a million people is an act of genocide," Putin said.

Read the latest from Ukraine here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/12/08/ukraine-news-russia-war-invasion-putin-missiles-kyiv-live/

Subscribe to The Telegraph with our special offer: just £1 for 3 months. Start your free trial now:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/customer/subscribe/digitalsub/3for1/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_pvid_conversion-subscription_editorial-iniative_03-22_EGW-13_organic_youtube

Get the latest headlines: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Telegraph.co.uk and YouTube.com/TelegraphTV are websites of The Telegraph, the UK's best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.