The devastating picture that sums up Putin's disregard for human life

An image of a huge crater just metres from a destroyed children's playground in central Kyiv has become the latest symbol of the devastation wreaked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The picture, taken by photographer Sergei Supinsky on Monday after Russian missile strikes on a number of Ukrainian cities, shows people gathered around its edge.

Human rights organisations Amnesty International said the carnage captured in the photograph was a "stark symbol" of the "disregard for human life" that has defined Russia's invasion.

Monday's attack by Russia on several Ukrainian cities left at least 11 dead and 64 injured.

Vladimir Putin said it was launched in retaliation for an explosion on a bridge linking Russia to Crimea, an attack he called a "terrorist act".

Watch: Kyiv clean-up operation begins after Russian missile strikes

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But Amnesty International accused Putin of attempting to "spread terror" with the strikes, which appeared to target civilian areas.

Its secretary general, Agnès Callamard, said: “This is yet another day of petrifying news from Ukraine, with Russia launching multiple strikes that hit residential areas, city centres and civilian infrastructure.

“The crater left by a Russian missile in the middle of children’s playground in central Kyiv is a stark symbol of the complete disregard for human life that has characterised Russia’s invasion.

“The ultimate goal of today’s attacks is to spread terror among the entire civilian population.

“Russia must immediately stop its war of aggression. All those responsible for the aggression and war crimes - including commanders and civilian leaders such as ministers and heads of state - should be held criminally responsible for their actions.”

Russian state television news claimed the strike at a children's playground in Kyiv was carried out by Ukrainian air defence systems.

Kyiv was targeted for the first time in months, while Russia also hit civilian areas and energy infrastructure across the country, from Kharkiv in the east to Lviv near the Polish border.

Prime minister Liz Truss and her counterparts in the G7 will hold a virtual meeting later on Tuesday, in which she is expected to tell fellow leaders to "stay the course" in the battle against Putin.

The video call will also be attended by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke to Truss and other world leaders on Monday.

Read more: BBC reporter in Ukraine ducks live on air as explosions hit Kyiv

Elsewhere, the head of the UK"s GCHQ intelligence agency has said that Putin's regime is becoming increasingly "desperate" as it runs short of weapons, allies and troops.

Sir Jeremy Fleming told the BBC: “We believe that Russia is running short of munitions, it’s certainly running short of friends and we have seen, because of the declaration for mobilisation, that it is running short of troops.”

Asked if GCHQ would know if Putin was considering using nuclear weapons, Sir Jeremy said: “I think any talk of nuclear weapons is very dangerous and we need to be very careful about how we are talking about that."

Watch: Putin vows revenge for 'terrorist act' after bridge explosion