Russia-Ukraine war: Iranian-made kamikaze drones hit Kyiv region: Governor

Iranian-made "kamikaze" drones hit regions around the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, early on Thursday morning, the regional governor, Oleksiy Kuleba, said.

There was no immediate information on casualties, but the deputy head of the presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said on Telegram that "critical infrastructure facilities'' in the area had been hit. 

Kyiv had largely been spared attacks in recent months until Russian forces launched massive missile strikes on Monday against civilian sites across the country. Since then, air raid sirens have sounded every day in the region.

Russian forces also "massively shelled" the southern city of Mykolaiv overnight, according to its mayor.

"A five-story residential building was hit, the two upper floors were completely destroyed, the rest — under rubble. Rescuers are working on the site," Oleksandr Sienkovych said in a statement on social media. 

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. The port city has suffered heavy bombardment throughout Russia's invasion.

The attacks come as Kyiv's forces continue their counteroffensive on the southern front in a bid to retake Russia-occupied territories.

Russian's escalation of aerial attacks in the past days has galvanized Western allies of Ukraine into stepping up efforts to deliver air defense systems.

Ukraine's military said this week it had shot down dozens of Russian missiles and Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones as Moscow's forces continue their ruthless attacks.