Russia has unleashed multiple waves of air strikes on Kyiv overnight in what officials say appeared to be the largest drone attack on the city since the start of the war, as the Ukrainian capital prepared to celebrate the anniversary of its founding on Sunday.
Eighteen people including Ukraine's interior minister, other senior ministry officials and three children have been killed when a helicopter crashed near a nursery outside Kyiv, Ukrainian officials say.
Russia is preparing for the next stage of its offensive, a Ukrainian military official says, after Moscow indicated its forces would step up operations.
Russia has struck Ukraine's capital Kyiv with missiles for the first time in more than a month, while Ukrainian officials say a counterattack on the main battlefield in the east had retaken half of the city of Sievierodonetsk.
Ukrainian authorities say missiles have struck the western city of Lviv, killing six, and explosions rocked other cities as Russian forces kept up their bombardments after claiming near full control of the southern port of Mariupol.
As Russian forces retreat from their offensive on the Ukrainian capital and focus their assault on the east a new grave holding dozens of civilians has been found in Buzova village near Kyiv.
Ukraine says its forces have seized back all areas around Kyiv, claiming complete control of the capital region for the first time since Russia launched the invasion.
