"During the night, the enemy once again launched a massive attack on the Kyiv region using strike drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles," regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk said on Telegram.
Russian forces launched a massive overnight bombardment of Kyiv using strike drones and missiles, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens, city authorities announced as explosions echoed across the region.
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The attack came after Ukraine's air force warned that ballistic missiles were headed towards the capital and followed Zelensky cutting short a visit to Dublin on Wednesday, citing intelligence reports of an impending Russian strike.
The heavy barrage triggered explosions that affected five districts of the wider Kyiv region.
"During the night, the enemy once again launched a massive attack on the Kyiv region using strike drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles," regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk said on Telegram. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko also issued a warning during the strikes, posting: "Kyiv is under attack from ballistic missiles and UAVs."
Zelensky said his early return was prompted by intelligence reports warning that Russia was preparing to launch a large-scale assault.
Ukraine has also stepped up long-range drone attacks inside Russia in recent weeks, targeting energy infrastructure and military targets.
Russian officials have reported repeated strikes in border regions, while Moscow has said its air defences had intercepted hundreds of drones from Ukraine in recent days.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused more than two million military casualties, with Moscow's forces bearing the majority of the losses, according to a study published Wednesday by US think tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Moscow has routinely launched coordinated waves of missiles and drones at Ukrainian urban centres throughout its invasion, which has now lasted more than four years and stands as Europe's deadliest conflict since the Second World War.
Our journalists are working on this story and will update it as soon as more information becomes available.