Russia and Ukraine exchange some of the strongest attacks of the war so far

Russia and Ukraine both unleashed some of the most devastating attacks of the war so far in drone and bomber strikes.

The Kremlin used Tu-95 strategic bombers to hit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and a number of other regions on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Ukraine delivered a devastating drone attack on Russian facilities in Crimea. The drone strikes followed a Storm Shadow attack, believed to have hit a Russian Black Sea Fleet command post.

Dramatic footage captured one of the eight Storm Shadow missiles fired on Crimea on Wednesday, while the fallout of debris raining down on Kyiv was also caught on video.

Russia admitted three of the eight missiles hit near Verkhnosadove and say they shot the other five down.

At least 19 kamikaze drones were targeted at Crimea.

Explosions hit Sevastopol, near Simferopol and Evpatoria as well as Saki, Novofedorovka, Dzhankoy and Balaklava.

The extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Firefighters tackled the fallout of a strike in Cherkasy, Ukraine (Picture: AP)

There were fires in Kyiv following the attacks (Picture: AP)

A number of buildings in Kyiv were damaged (Picture: REUTERS)

Ukraine also attacked Russian regions Kursk, Belgorod and Oryol regions with drones.

Ukrainian air defences destroyed 20 incoming cruise missiles over Kyiv, but at least least seven people were wounded in the capital.

In Cherkasy, central Ukraine, at least 23 people were wounded as Russian sources claimed to have hit a hotel housing ‘foreign mercenaries’.

A missile attack on Kherson reportedly killed two people, and six missiles hit Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv, with reports of casualties.

The overnight attacks came as Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the UN security council.

Mr Zelensky told the UN security council: ‘Most of the world recognises the truth about this war.

‘It is a criminal and unprovoked aggression by Russia aimed at seizing Ukraine’s territory and resources.’

He demanded a UN overhaul to remove Russia’s security council veto.

Lavrov accused the US of meddling in Ukraine and buying off Kyiv officials.

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