Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and its surrounding regions left at least five people killed with some 23 wounded, Ukrainian authorities said in the early hours of Thursday.

Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said that Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Kyiv.

What do we know about the Russian overnight attack on Kyiv?

The attack damaged residential buildings, a medical facility and an educational institution, the Kyiv city military administration said in a statement.

At least 5 people were killed in Kyiv, the administration added.

Another attack on the Brovary district in the broader Kyiv region killed one person and wounded another, Kyiv regional governor Tymur Tkachenko said.

"One industrial facility has been damaged. All relevant services are on site, working to extinguish the fire," he added.

In neighboring Poland, the Polish army said it started preventive military aviation operations to protect its airspace amid the Russian strikes. The Polish military often takes this measure amid heavy Russian strikes on Ukraine.

Russia has stepped up attacks on the Ukrainian capital in recent month, with Ukraine also increasing attacks deep within Russia.

Edited by: Dharvi Vaid

If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your preferred source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first.