At least three people, including a child, were killed and three others injured in overnight Russian missile strikes near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday.
The attacks took place in the early hours of Saturday, with missiles striking areas east of Kyiv and powerful explosions reported by residents.
Timur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration, said falling debris damaged apartment buildings and vehicles, while a separate building caught fire.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said emergency crews were battling fires at a building and a fuel tank in the capital.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service shared images showing fires at garages, a business establishment and a building, saying the number of casualties was still being assessed.
The latest strikes come days after Russian attacks across Ukraine killed 21 people, prompting renewed concerns over the country’s air-defence capabilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Kyiv’s stockpile of missile interceptors is declining. He has also criticised delays in receiving additional anti-ballistic defence systems from international partners, saying stronger interception capabilities could have saved lives.
Zelensky is currently visiting Serbia, his first trip to the country, as Ukraine continues to seek greater international support for its air-defence requirements.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has carried out strikes against Russian energy infrastructure, including two oil refineries deep inside Russia and Moscow-linked vessels in the Black Sea.
