Large parts of Kyiv have been plunged into darkness after Russian drones and missiles struck Ukrainian energy facilities, cutting power and water to homes and halting a key metro link across the Dnipro river.

In the latest mass attack targeting the energy system as winter approaches, electricity was interrupted in nine regions and about 600,000 households were temporarily without power across the country.

A seven-year-old was killed when his home was hit in the southeast and at least 20 people were injured.

An apartment block in the centre of Kyiv was damaged by a projectile on Friday, while on the left bank of the Dnipro that divides the capital crowds waited at bus stops with the metro out of action and people filled water bottles at distribution points.

Ukrainians are bracing for a

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