In the course of one night, Russian drone attacks against Kyiv’s civilian infrastructure claimed the lives of three persons.
Two dorms and an educational center in the city of Rzhyshchiv were partially destroyed in the attack, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on Telegram.
It further stated that although one person had been saved and two others had been hurt, four more likely remained trapped beneath the debris.
28 vehicles and more than 100 rescuers were dispatched to the location to aid in the hunt for survivors.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Twitter: ‘Over 20 Iranian murderous drones, plus missiles, numerous shelling incidents, and that’s just in one last night of Russian terror against Ukraine.’
Suggesting Russia did not want peace in Ukraine, he added: ‘Every time someone tries to hear the word “peace” in Moscow, another order is given there for such criminal strikes.’
The Kyiv Regional Military Administration had earlier on Wednesday reported that seven people had been wounded in the latest attacks by Russian forces.
The Ukrainian military said it had shot down 16 out of 21 drones launched at Ukraine overnight by Russia.
Russia did not immediately comment on the latest reports of combat.
The strikes came hours after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise visit to the city on Tuesday.
It stole some of the attention from Xi Jinping’s state visit to Moscow, where he gave a strong political boost to Vladimir Putin with a pomp-filled state visit to Moscow.
Mr Kishida, who is to chair the G7 summit in May, met Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, and paid tribute to those killed in Bucha, a town that became a symbol of Russian atrocities against civilians.
He laid flowers at a church in the town for victims and said: ‘I would like to represent the people in Japan, and express my deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones, were injured as a result of this cruel act.’
Ukraine also launched drone strikes on the port of Sevastopol in annexed Crimea, damaging the main Russian government offices.
Sea drones attacked the city with thunderous explosions as Ukraine warned the strikes were a prelude to a new offensive.
The port of Sevastopol was closed to all shipping after the early morning attack.