Ukraine attacked by 40 Russian missiles, drones: Kyiv

Russia’s escalating missile and drone attacks are stretching Ukraine’s air defence resources. (AP PHOTO)

Ukraine has suffered a large overnight Russian missile attack, with its air defences downing a far lower proportion of them than usual.

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 37 missiles and three drones in the early hours of Saturday.

Eight missiles were downed, it said in a statement on social media.

The air force spokesperson said on Tuesday that Ukraine was now suffering from a deficit of air defence missiles. 

It was not immediately clear whether this or any other factor was the reason for the low hit rate.

Most of the missiles used overnight were extremely fast-moving ballistic types, the air force said. 

These are far harder to shoot down.

"It should be noted that more than 20 of all the listed (weapons) which were not included in the number of the downed, did not reach their targets as a result of active countermeasures by electronic warfare," the statement said.

There were no details on the targets of the strike.

Air defences shot down Russian missiles in at least five regions across Ukraine, according to local officials from those provinces.

The large south-eastern city of Dnipro was struck, the local governor said, also without providing detail as to what was hit.

Police in the northern region of Chernihiv posted a picture of a large crater made by a downed missile.

"As a result of being hit by the debris of an enemy missile, several private homes and non-residential buildings were damaged - one building was practically destroyed," the police wrote. 

No people were hurt but a dog was killed, police said.

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