Russian Attack Kills Multiple People, Damages Buildings in Ukraine

A major Russian attack on parts of Ukraine and its capital, Kyiv, has killed multiple people, damaged buildings and left others feared trapped under rubble, local authorities say.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a suspected missile strike on a 24-storey apartment building triggered a collapse on Tuesday, local time.

At least 51 people, including three children, were injured in the attack on Kyiv, Mr Klitschko said in an update provided on Telegram.

Hospital wards were treating at least 35 of those people and one child, he said.

Earlier, Mr Klitschko said a fire had broken out in the Podil district on the grounds of a non-residential property, and a nine-storey apartment building was on fire after debris apparently struck the roof.

"In the Obolon district, cars are burning after being struck by falling missile debris. There are also fires at two locations in open areas, including one near a kindergarten," he said in a statement on Telegram.

As daylight rose, city officials reported falling missile debris or direct strikes had destroyed or damaged buildings in seven different districts of the capital.

During the attack Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv's City Military Administration, said "the enemy is striking with ballistic missiles".

Thousands of residents in Kyiv took refuge inside underground metro stations and other shelters after air raid warnings rang out over the city.

Most of the country was also under air raid warnings early on Tuesday.

In the eastern city of Dnipro, four people died and 25 others were injured in the Russian attacks, regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said on Telegram.

The injured were hospitalised and reported to be in moderate condition.

A two-story building was also partially destroyed, while several apartments in a four-storey building were damaged.

Ukraine prepared for 'massive strike'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday reiterated warnings of a possible massive Russian strike, and urged residents to pay special attention to air raid alerts.

"Intelligence warnings regarding Russian strikes remain in effect. A massive strike is possible; they have prepared one," he said in his nightly video address.

"Our defenders are ready 24/7 to the fullest extent possible with the supplies currently available."

Russia last week warned that it intended to launch "systematic strikes" on targets in Kyiv linked to the Ukrainian military, as well as decision-making centres, and urged foreigners to leave.

It said the action was in response to a drone strike last month on a dormitory in Ukraine's Russian-held Luhansk region, which killed 21 people.

Ukraine denied carrying out the attack.

In the north-eastern Kharkiv region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram that at least 10 people, including a child, were injured in Russian shelling overnight.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

Russia has targeted Ukraine's power supplies and infrastructure while Ukraine has stepped up attacks on oil facilities inside Russia this year, sometimes resulting in casualties. Both sides deny targeting civilians.

The war in Ukraine has ground on for more than four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Efforts to end the conflict have made little progress, with the US administration of Donald Trump focused on conflicts in the Middle East.