RUSSIAN MISSILES STRIKE KYIV, KILLING AT LEAST NINE

Russian missile strikes on Kyiv killed at least nine people and injured dozens early on Saturday, according to Ukrainian authorities. The strikes triggered more than a dozen explosions across the capital. Reports of the casualty toll vary: one account recorded 22 injured, while another reported 28 wounded.

Russia and Ukraine have intensified attacks in recent months. Moscow has increased its long-range strikes on towns and cities across Ukraine. According to one expert assessment, the Russian missile interception rate in Ukraine fell from 90 per cent in March to 70 per cent.

The Saturday morning strikes represented a continuation of the escalating pattern of ballistic missile attacks on Ukrainian population centres. Ukrainian authorities did not provide further detail on the specific targets or damage assessment at the time of reporting.