Kiev without power and water, Russia carries out massive air strike in Ukraine

Kiev's chairman, Vitaly Klitcko, said the supply of water and electricity in some parts of the capital has been cut off, as Russia launched its large-scale attack during the early morning hours.

In a message, Ukraine's president's office, Volodymyr Zelensky, condemned Russia's “desire to destroy Ukrainian energy sector” and promised that this “to Russia costs too much”, including its infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Andriy Yermak's chief of staff called on Kiev's allies to allow Ukraine to use weapons that the West has supplied to carry out long-range attacks against Russia.

Yermak said this would speed up the end of Russian terror”.

According to Ukrainian officials, Russian forces attacked several Ukrainian cities, killing at least three people and wounding several others.

One person was killed and a residential building was damaged in the northwestern city of Lutsk, according to the town's mayor, Ihor Polischuk.

Two people were killed in the Zaporija and Dnepropetrovsk regions, according to local authorities.

In the Polantawa region, five people were injured after an industrial facility was hit by bombs.

Three explosions were reported in the Winnissia region.

Earlier, 16 regions in Ukraine, including the capital Kiev, were under new alert for air strikes following waves of drone attacks from Russia on 26 August.

Ukraine's Air Force Command had warned citizens not to ignore the air strike alarm after discovering the establishment of 11 Russian bombers Tu-95 MS.

The command added that it had discovered threat movements in several regions and in Kiev, while Ukraine's Navy said four Russian ships were carrying up to 28 Calibr cruise missiles were located in the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed 20 Ukrainian fears had been destroyed overnight.

Russia's Saratov region Governor Roman Busargin said the fears were targeting the towns of Saratov and Engels and had damaged two residential buildings.

He said the damage was caused by the remnants that fell after air defence systems shot fears.

Russian news agencies reported that four women were injured in Saratov and that one woman was hospitalised.

No casualties reported in Engels.

Engels and Saratov are located on the opposite banks of the Volga River, with a strategic military base of bombers located about 12km from the location where the fears were caught.

Saratov is about 900km from the Ukrainian border.

Citing the airport's press office, news agencies said flights were limited to Saratov's regional airport.

Free Europe Radio couldn't independently verify these reports.

Ukraine and Russia insist they are not targeting civilians in their attacks, but critical combat infrastructure. / REL/