On Monday, officials reported that Russia carried out a series of strikes causing destruction and injuries in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, as part of its preparations for Victory Day, a holiday commemorating its victory over Nazi Germany.

The strikes caused injuries to at least five people in Kyiv, and resulted in a foodstuff warehouse catching fire in Odesa due to Russian missiles. There were also reports of explosions in other parts of Ukraine.

As Moscow prepares for its Victory Day parade, President Vladimir Putin has called upon the spirit of the Soviet army to defeat what he perceives as a new incarnation of Nazism in Ukraine. The ongoing conflict has seen a recent escalation of attacks, with Russian forces launching strikes on Kyiv and other regions, causing injuries and destruction.

The shelling of Bakhmut has intensified, with Ukraine's top general warning of a potential attack by Tuesday. As a result of the latest strikes, several people have been injured, including those in the Solomyanskyi and Sviatoshyn districts in Kyiv's west.

The attacks in Kyiv continued as witnesses reported hearing numerous explosions, and local officials confirmed that air defence systems were repelling the attacks. It is uncertain how many drones were launched on Kyiv, but reports indicate that drone wreckage fell onto a runway of the Zhuliany airport and hit a two-storey building in Kyiv's central Shevchenkivskyi district.

There is no immediate information on any casualties. The Odesa military administration confirmed that a foodstuff warehouse was set ablaze by Russian missiles, among other targets. Photos of the burning structure were posted on social media.

The airstrikes on Ukraine continued for hours, with reports of explosions in other regions including Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. An official in Zaporizhzhia reported that Russian forces targeted a warehouse and Ukrainian troops' position in Orikhiv, but Reuters was unable to verify the claim.

Additionally, the regional military administration in Sumy reported that Russian forces shelled eight locations in the area. Meanwhile, strikes on Russian-held targets, particularly in Crimea, have increased in recent weeks. Ukraine claims that these strikes are in preparation for an anticipated ground assault, though they have not confirmed any role in the attacks.

The conflict, which began when Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022 under the guise of a "special military operation" to defend Russia from neo-Nazis, has resulted in the deaths of thousands and forced millions to flee the country, making it the largest conflict in Europe since World War Two.