Russia launches 'exceptional' air attack on Kyiv: reports

Ukrainian officials said Russia has launched an intense air attack on Kyiv overnight, using a combination of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.

The head of Kyiv's military administration said Tuesday that the majority of the missiles were struck down by air defence.

Debris fell across several districts in the capital, including the Solomyansky district, where it caused a fire in a non-residential building. The fire was extinguished.

Debris also set vehicles on fire and fell on the grounds of a zoo, but no losses were reported, said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The attack was “exceptional in its density — the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time,” said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration.

It is the eighth time this month that Russian air raids have targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive.