Ukraine war: Kyiv attacked by Russia for first time in weeks as several people injured in missile strikes

Ukraine's capital has been attacked for the first time in three weeks by Russian missile strikes - as G7 leaders gathered in Germany with the invasion set to be one of the main talking topics.

Up to four explosions were heard in the centre of Kyiv while two more were reported in the southern outskirts of the city.

Two residential buildings were struck and police said at least five people were injured in the attacks.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said four were taken to hospital and a seven-year-old girl was pulled alive from the rubble.

He claimed the airstrikes may have been a "symbolic attack" by Moscow ahead of this week's NATO summit in Madrid.

Kyiv comes under attack - see Ukraine war updates

And Andriy Yermak, head of the president's administration, said: "The Russians hit Kyiv again. Missiles damaged an apartment building and a kindergarten."

Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko wrote on the Telegram messaging app that "according to prelim data, 14 missiles were launched against Kyiv region and Kyiv".

The last time the capital was hit by Russian airstrikes was 5 June.

Explosions have also been heard in the central city of Cherkasy, regional governor Oleksandr Skichko said on Telegram. He did not give further details.

Cherkasy has been largely untouched by bombardment since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.

Meanwhile, Russian forces have been seeking to take the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Luhansk region.

They have already claimed full control of Severodonetsk and the chemical plant where hundreds of Ukrainian troops and civilians had been holed up.

Serhiy Haidai, governor of the Luhansk region that includes Severodonetsk, said Russia was carrying out intense airstrikes on the neighbouring city of Lysychansk, destroying its television tower and seriously damaging a road bridge.

"There's very much destruction - Lysychansk is almost unrecognisable," he wrote on Facebook.