Major Russian attack includes rare strikes on centre of Kyiv

Firefighters work on the site of a burning building after a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Russia launched a major air attack early on Thursday on Kyiv that included a rare strike on the city centre, killing at least 18 people, wounding 48 and damaging European Union diplomatic offices, authorities said.

The bombardment of drones and missiles was the first major Russian attack on Kyiv in weeks as US-led peace efforts to end the three-year war struggled to gain traction.