Air defences shoot down 18 missiles as Russia launches major attack on Kyiv

It was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, a clear escalation after weeks of lull and ahead of a much-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive

A firefighter tries to put out fire caused by fragments of a Russian rocket after it was shot down by air defence systems in Kyiv (Ukrainian Emergency Situations Ministry via AP)

Ukrainian air defences thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early on Tuesday, shooting down all 18 missiles aimed at the capital.

Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv as the night-time attack combined Russian missiles launched from the air, sea and land in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defences. No casualties were reported.