Ukraine said Russia launched 539 drones and 11 missiles over Kyiv, sending residents scrambling for shelter and safety underground.

The strikes came hours after United States (US) President Donald Trump had a phone call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, which was later described by Trump as “disappointing”.

“I don't think he's there. I'm very disappointed. Well, I'm just saying I don't think he's looking to stop."

The Kremlin has reiterated that Moscow is to keep pushing to solve the conflict's "root causes." Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the overnight attack “deliberately massive and cynical” and has called for increased pressure on Russia.

Kyiv officials say damage was recorded in six of the capital's 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, but that no staff were harmed. This woman says her apartment block was hit too and is now uninhabitable.

Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and have included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people. Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. On Friday, Dutch and German intelligence agencies said they have gathered evidence of widespread Russian use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine.

This includes dropping a choking agent from drones to drive soldiers out of trenches so they can be shot.

The US first accused Russia of using the banned chocking agent chloropicrin, in May last year.

While Ukraine alleges thousands of instances of Russian chemical weapons use. Russia's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request to comment. Russia has denied using illegal munitions and it has accused Ukraine of doing so.

Reuters has not been able to independently verify the use of banned chemical substances by either side.

--Reuters--