Russian drones and missiles pounded the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other cities early on Tuesday, killing at least 23 people and wounding more than 100, authorities said, following days of warnings about Moscow's plans for a major assault.
Last week, the Kremlin warned that it intended "systematic strikes" on targets in Kyiv in response to a drone attack on a dormitory in Ukraine's Russian-held region of Luhansk, which killed 21. Ukraine denied the attack.
Photographs showed large explosions and plumes of smoke billowing over high-rise buildings in Kyiv, where overnight strikes killed four people and wounded up to 65, including children, according to the capital's mayor, Vitali Klitschko.
A suspected missile strike on a 24-storey apartment building triggered a collapse, leaving people probably trapped under the rubble, he added.
"In the Obolon district, cars are burning after being struck by falling missile debris. There are also fires at two locations in open areas, including one near a kindergarten," Klitschko said.
Thousands of residents of Kyiv were taking refuge inside metro stations and other shelters, witnesses said, after air raid warnings that covered much of the country early on Tuesday.
"I only dream that this (war) will end soon, but I’ve lost all hope. I don’t know, it’s hard," 32-year-old Kyiv resident Valeriia Nafechinko, sheltering in a metro station, said with a heavy sigh.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday reiterated warnings of a potentially major assault and urged residents to pay special attention to air raid alerts.
"Intelligence warnings regarding Russian strikes remain in effect. A massive strike is possible, they have prepared one," Zelenskyy said.
"Our defenders are ready 24/7 to the fullest extent possible with the supplies currently available."
Russia last week warned that it intended to launch "systematic strikes" on targets in Kyiv linked to the Ukrainian military as well as decision-making centres, and urged foreigners to leave.
Meanwhile the Governor of Leningrad Aleksandr Drozdenko said Russia downed around 50 drones over the region overnight on Wednesday.
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "strongly condemned" the Russian attacks.
He repeated Guterres' appeal for "immediate de-escalation, leading to a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire in this conflict."
In Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, 10 people, including a child, were injured in drone and missile attacks, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.
Reuters could not independently verify all the reports.
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