RUSSIA has launched a barrage of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles at Kiev, Ukraine’s air force said today.

A series of explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital in the early hours of Monday, September 1, sending residents into bomb shelters.

The city’s mayor Vitalii Klitschko said emergency services were called to the Holosiivskyi and Solomianskyi districts of Kiev.

One person was also reportedly injured by falling debris in the Shevchenkivskyi district, Mr Klitschko said.

Serhii Popko, head of Kiev’s city military administration, said over 10 cruise missiles, about 10 ballistic missiles and a drone fired at the capital and its suburbs were destroyed by Ukraine’s air defences.

An explosion also rang out in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, according to Ukrainian media. 

Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv region, confirmed the early morning strike and said it set several residential buildings on fire.

The barrage comes a day after Russia’s military reported intercepting and destroying 158 Ukrainian drones targeting multiple Russian regions.