RUSSIAN missiles killed at least seven civilians in Ukraine’s second-largest city early today as Kiev’s army struggled to hold off an intense cross-border offensive by the Kremlin’s larger and better-equipped forces.

At least 16 people were injured as S-300 missiles struck Kharkiv, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. The sound of 15 explosions reverberated around the city of some one million people, which lies in the north-east about 12 miles from the Russian border.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again expressed frustration at not receiving enough air defence systems from the West.