Child among three dead in Russian nightly strikes near Kyiv

At least three people, including a child, have been killed in overnight Russian attacks near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

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.

Falling debris damaged apartment buildings and cars, while a fire broke out at a separate building, the head of the regional military administration Timur Tkachenko said. He added that three others had been wounded in the ballistic missile strikes.

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 Serbia for his first visit after raising concerns about Ukraine’s capacity to fend off Russian missile attacks due to depleting interceptors stockpiles.

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.

Recent mediation talks have faltered, leading to an escalation of attacks between both sides.