Russia has increasingly focused its strikes on the capital Kyiv. Kyiv has been targeted in 17 out of 21 reported Russian attacks on Ukraine in May, compared with twice out of seven attacks in April.

Ukraine and politicians across Europe have accused Russia of a 'terrorist attack', as Russian officials blamed Ukraine

Russia said on Thursday it had repelled more cross-border attacks from Ukraine while its aerial assaults on Kyiv killed another three people including a nine-year-old girl and her mother locked out of an air raid shelter.

"Let me remind you, there's Alaska across the strait," Russia State Duma Deputy, Andrey Gurulyov said on state-run TV.

Vasylivka and Ivanivske and in Paraskoviivka, all near Bakhmut, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian residents have been evacuated from their homes over concerns of flooding due to damage sustained to a Ukrainian dam.