Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, has gone under new attack, following two evenings of drone strikes.

A military spokesman said missiles were used in the latest barrage. They were all reportedly shot down and there are no reports of casualties.

Vitali Klitschko encouraged occupants to take cover and cautioned them about falling debris.

Russia has sent off 16 air attacks on Kyiv this month.

Monday morning's attack, nonetheless, was uncommon for two reasons: since it occurred during daylight hours - and because it seemed to be targeted at the center of the city.

All other air assaults on the capital so far in May have taken place at night and appeared to be directed at critical national infrastructure and air defenses on the streets.

The present assaults imply more serious gamble to individuals of Kyiv on the grounds that more will be making the rounds, at work, and in the roads.

Air Force spokesman Yuri Ihnat said that Iskander ballistic missiles were used in the latest attack and that it was possible S-300 and S-400 missiles had also been fired.

Air raid sirens reportedly also rang out across several other Ukrainian regions.

Local military commanders in Kyiv accused Russia of changing its tactics and deliberately targeting the civilian population. It certainly appears that Moscow wants to step up its pressure on Ukraine even further ahead of any counter-offensive.

Oleksandr Scherba, the ambassador-at-large at Ukraine's Ministry of foreign affairs, told the BBC that the last few days had been very difficult for Kyiv residents.

"Almost every night, the skies look and sound like another Star Wars episode, but we don't feel much of Russian rockets hitting their targets here within the city area. And this is all thanks to the decent countries, decent people of the world who gave us this air defense," he said.

Living in the capital was anything but normal at the moment, Mr. Scherba said, adding that the drone attacks and sleepless nights had become "part of our routine".

On Sunday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky praised his country's air defense forces after Kyiv sustained the largest drone attack since the war began.

"You are heroes," said Mr. Zelensky, after military commanders said most of the so-called kamikaze drones launched by Russia were brought down.

In its recent attacks, Russia - which launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 - has been using kamikaze drones as well as a range of cruise and ballistic missiles.

Analysts say Moscow is seeking to deplete and damage Ukraine's air defenses ahead of its long-expected counter-offensive.

On Saturday, one of Ukraine's most senior security officials told the BBC the country was ready to launch such an operation.

Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the powerful National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, said an assault to retake territory from President Vladimir Putin's occupying forces could begin "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or in a week".

Ukraine has been planning a counter-offensive for months. But it has wanted as much time as possible to train troops and to receive military equipment from Western allies.

On Monday, in the Russian region of Belgorod, the governor said that several frontier settlements were being shelled simultaneously by Ukrainian forces.

In the meantime, Russian forces have been preparing their defenses in the seized regions of south-eastern Ukraine.