Russia strikes Ukraine day after West's 'tank coalition' move

Russian warplanes launched a wave of missiles at Ukraine during the rush hour on Thursday morning and Ukrainians took cover in shelters as air defence forces shot down incoming salvoes, officials said.

An air raid alert wailed across the country as people were heading to work. In the capital Kyiv, crowds of people sheltered in underground metro stations, with some sitting on blankets or small plastic chairs.

The air attacks came hours after the United States and Germany said they had agreed to send Ukraine battle tanks.