Vladimir Putin unleashed a barrage of missiles on Ukraine in the early hours of this morning, killing at least five people after the rockets struck residential buildings across the country.
More than 20 cruise missiles and two drones were fired at cities and towns across the country, blowing up people’s homes as they slept.
At least two cruise missiles smashed into a nine-storey residential building in the central town of Uman, killing three people – including a 75-year-old woman – and wounding eight.
Missiles also rained down on the central city of Dnipro, with one striking a house where a 31-year-old mother and her two-year-old daughter were sleeping. They both died in the barbaric attack.
Kyiv was also rocked by explosions in the first attack against the capital in nearly two months, with air raid sirens beginning at 4am. Ukraine’s air force managed to intercept 11 cruise missiles and two drones that had been launched at the city in a move that will have saved scores of lives.
Pictured: Fire and smoke rise up in the night sky after a residential building was hit by a Russian missile in the town of Uman, Cherkasy region, Ukraine
Pictured: A heavily damaged residential building hit by a Russian missile is set on fire, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Uman, Cherkasy region, Ukraine, on Friday
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack at an apartments’ buildings area in the town of Uman on Friday
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack at a residential building in Uman, central Ukraine, on Friday
Dramatic footage shows the horror of a Russian attack on the town of Uman, part of an overnight blitzkrieg in Ukraine.
Three people were killed and eight wounded when a missile hit a high-rise residential building, said head of the Cherkasy regional administration, Ihor Taburets.
The partially destroyed building was seen engulfed in flames.
A rescue operation was underway. A haunting video shows a distraught Ukrainian woman with blood on her hands and face after the attack as she shows the wreckage of her flat.
She told how her children had narrowly escaped death in the terrifying bombardment.
Three people have been killed, including women and children as a result of a Russian missile attack on Uman, central Ukraine, which was burning last night
A firefighter works at thee site of storage facilities hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Friday
A terrified Ukrainian woman surveys the damage and her own injuries as Russians bombarded the town of Uman
Rescuers work at the site of a residential building heavily damaged residential building hit by a Russian missile, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the town of Uman, Cherkasy region, Ukraine, on Friday
Rescuers work at the site of a residential building heavily damaged residential building hit by a Russian missile, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the town of Uman, on Friday
An emergency worker stands near dead bodies in plastic bags near the site of a heavily damaged residential building hit by a Russian missile, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the town of Uman, on Friday
Pictured: Destroyed vehicles near a heavily damaged residential building hit by a Russian missile, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the town of Uman, Cherkasy region, on Friday
Vladimir Putin unleashed a barrage of missiles on Ukraine in the early hours of this morning, killing at least five people after the rockets struck residential buildings across the country. Pictured: A map showing where the Russian missile strikes have hit across Ukraine
‘A missile hit our block of flats,’ she said, showing the damage. ‘We are all covered in blood. All windows were shattered. Children were sleeping here.
‘They are all alive. We are all covered in blood. I got so scared. I hate you, bloody [Russians], I hate you.’
‘This morning the occupiers attacked Cherkasy region,’ said Taburets, adding: ‘There are two cruise missile hits in Uman – a residential house and warehouse buildings.’
Separately a young woman, 31, and a two year old child were killed when a private house was hit, said Borys Filatov, mayor of the central city of Dnipro, said on Telegram.
Rockets destroyed the building of a private enterprise.
A 70-year-old woman was injured.
The carnage was part of an overnight onslaught by Russian forces on Ukraine.
Ukrainian sources suggested some of the attacks were conventional missiles launched by Russia’s Tu-95 strategic nuclear aircraft from the Caspian Sea region.
The Ukrainian air force claimed to have destroyed 21 out of 23 incoming Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, as well as two military drones.
Russia immediately claimed that the hits on residential buildings were from ‘cack-handed’ Ukrainian air defences.
Propagandist Vladimir Solovyov alleged: ‘In Uman, the valiant defenders laid down almost the entire entrance of a nine-story building while Russian missiles reached the [targeted] storage facilities without hindrance.’
Firefighters work to stem a fire at a heavily damaged apartment building in Uman, Cherkasy region, on Friday
The moment one of the missiles explodes after a new Russian bombardment
Kyiv was rocked by explosions and air raid sirens and explosions were reported across the country, reported Interfax Ukraine.
Kremenchuk and Poltava in central Ukraine were hit, and Mykolaiv in the south.
The strike came a day after the Kremlin had welcomed anything that could bring an end to the conflict.
This referred to a lengthy telephone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday.
