Russian missile strikes hit Kyiv and other major cities on Wednesday morning, Ukraine’s Air Force said.

Several blasts were heard in the country’s capital when air defence systems were engaged in repelling the attack.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said 11 people, including a pregnant woman, were injured in the city. The strikes left power lines damaged and apartments, cars and a service station on fire.

In southern Mykolaiv, local authorities reported one person was killed and several others wounded. Explosions were also heard in northeastern Kharkiv.

According to the Ukrainian air force, Russian cruise missiles were also detected manoeuvring above the western regions of Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk.

The whole country was put under air alert at around 6am local time (04:00 GMT).

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