Ukraine's capital Kyiv came under a large-scale missile and drone attack overnight on December 27, with multiple explosions reported across the city and surrounding regions, one day ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as diplomatic efforts continue to end the four-year-long war.
"I imagined my family in one of those houses that is now destroyed and black," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
The fall of Kherson -- a city of 300,000 people, northwest of the Crimean peninsula -- is significant because it would allow the Russians to control more of Ukraine's southern coastline and to push west toward the city of Odessa, the NYT reported.
'Air raid alert in Kyiv. Residents should go to the nearest shelter,' tweeted The Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine alleges that Russian soldiers killed scores of civilians during its fight for and occupation of the Ukrainian town of Bucha and other cities and towns.
Ukrainian officials said Russian forces struck near the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, without providing extensive details.
'The main body of the large Russian column advancing on Kyiv remains over 30km from the centre of the city having been delayed by staunch Ukrainian resistance, mechanical breakdown and congestion. The column has made little discernible progress in over three days,' tweeted the UK Ministry of Defence.
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