At least three people, including a child, have been killed in overnight Russian attacks near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, a local official said.
In the early hours of Saturday missiles hit east of the capital and witnesses reported hearing powerful explosions just days after strikes across Ukraine killed 21 people.
The ballistic missile strikes killed three and wounded another three, head of the regional military administration Timur Tkachenko said, adding that falling debris damaged apartment buildings and cars, while a fire broke out at a separate building.
Emergency crews were also fighting fires at a building and fuel tank in Kyiv, Mayor Vitaly Klitchko wrote on Telegram.
Ukraine’s state emergency service DSNS shared photos showing garages, a business and a building on fire in Kyiv, adding: “The number of victims is being clarified.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the Serbian capital Belgrade for his first visit. He is meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to discuss economic ties, security issues and relations with the European Union.
Ukraine state emergency service DSNS
Garages ablaze in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district after the latest Russian strike
Zelensky is trying to build wider support for Ukraine, but Vučić has refused to apply sanctions to Russia.
Serbia is trying to join the EU and has provided aid to Ukraine and promised to help it rebuild after the war.
Earlier in the week, Zelensky said delays in receiving anti-ballistic systems from partners leads to “horrific casualties and destruction”, saying that having a stronger interceptor capability “could have saved lives” in recent deadly assaults.
The president later said the supply of interceptors from allies had been “significantly reduced” this year.
It came after Ukraine hit two oil refineries deep inside Russia along with Moscow-linked vessels in the Black Sea, which Zelensky said was intended to limit oil revenues used by Russia to “finance” its war in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military hit Russia’s Ilsky and Syzran oil refineries during overnight attacks, causing fires at both, the Ukrainian general staff said on Saturday.
Recent mediation talks between Ukraine and Russia have faltered, leading to an escalation of attacks between both sides.
