'Massive' Russian strikes on Kyiv kill at least 3

A "massive" Russian attack on Kyiv on Thursday killed at least three people and wounded a dozen others, officials in the Ukrainian capital said.

Powerful explosions rocked the city overnight, illuminating the sky and leaving behind a column of smoke, AFP journalists saw.

The city's military administration said three people had been confirmed dead and 12 wounded, with "significant damage" to residential buildings. One of those killed was a 14-year-old, according to the administration's head Tymur Tkachenko.

The attack comes as Moscow and Kyiv trade blame over an impasse in diplomatic efforts towards a peace deal which have been spearheaded by US President Donald Trump.

An AFP journalist in Kyiv saw red tracer bullets sailing through the night sky in an effort to intercept drones above the city centre. At least one missile appeared to be shot down.

Around 100 people took refuge in a subway station, with some lying in sleeping bags and others holding their pets.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko described Russia's latest strikes as a "massive attack" which caused damage in five districts of the capital.

A five-storey building in the Darnytsky district had collapsed, the mayor reported.

Kyiv suffered one of its worst attacks of the over three-year war on July 31, leaving more than 30 people dead including five children.

Russian forces have been slowly but steadily gaining ground in Ukraine in recent months, as diplomatic efforts have accelerated.

Trump held a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this month, followed by a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies.

But there has been little progress since then.

Before concluding any peace agreement, Ukraine wants security guarantees from the West to deter any future Russian attacks.

Moscow has cast Kyiv's demands as unrealistic and has raised particular objection to the notion of stationing Western peacekeeping troops in Ukraine.

Zelensky said on Wednesday that members of his administration would meet with US officials in New York on Friday.

The Ukrainian leader said he saw "very arrogant and negative signals from Moscow regarding the negotiations", urging extra "pressure" to "force Russia to take real steps".