‘Massive’ attack as Ukraine advances

Pro-Russian authorities have urged residents in the Kherson region of Ukraine to “immediately” leave the main city in the face of Kyiv’s advancing counter-offensive.

The call came as President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had launched 36 rockets overnight in a “massive attack” on Ukraine, following reported strikes on energy infrastructure that resulted in power outages across the country.

Kyiv’s forces have been advancing along the west bank of the Dnipro river, towards the city of Kherson which was the first major city to fall to Moscow’s troops. Retaking it would be a major prize in Ukraine’s counter-offensive.

“Due to the tense situation on the front, the increased danger of mass shelling of the city and the threat of terrorist attacks, all civilians must immediately leave the city and cross to the left bank” of the Dnipro river, the region’s pro-Russian authorities announced on social media.

Russia hit back with attacks on Ukraine’s regions in the west, centre, south and east which left nearly 1.5 million households without electricity.

But Mr Zelensky (pictured) said most of the Russian missiles and drones were being shot down and such strikes would not stop a Ukrainian military advance.

“Of course, we do not yet have the technical ability to shoot down 100 per cent of Russian missiles and attack drones. We will gradually come to this - with the help of our partners, I’m confident of this,” he said in his video address on Saturday night.

Almost a third of Ukraine’s power stations and other energy-generating facilities have been destroyed in a wave of air strikes since Monday last week.

“These are vile strikes on critical objects,” Zelensky said.

“The world can and must stop this terror.”

In the Russian Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, at least two civilians were killed in strikes on Saturday, according to the local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.