Russia launches strikes in Ukraine in violation of self-declared ceasefire

Russia has launched attacks across Ukraine, killing at least two civilians, in violation of a unilateral, self-declared ceasefire for the Orthodox celebration of Christmas on Saturday.

Washington has also urged Italy to provide air defence systems to Ukraine, during a conversation between two top advisers, the newspaper La Repubblica reported.

The new vehicles, along with a similar shipment from Germany and Patriot air defence missiles from both countries, represent a show of western unity with Kyiv, amid speculation that Moscow may be planning a new mobilisation to expand the ranks of the invading army.

Fighting has destroyed much of the city, and claimed many lives, the latest a 66-year-old man and 61-year-old woman who were killed by shelling; 13 others were injured.

The Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol in Crimea said air defences had shot down a Ukrainian drone, apparently trying to attack the port.

In Kyiv, priests from the Ukrainian Orthodox church held a highly symbolic Orthodox Christmas service in Ukrainian at the 1,000-year-old Pechersk Lavra monastery, one of the most important religious sites in the city.

Overlooking the right bank of the Dnieper River, the cathedral and monastery complex has been a pilgrimage site for centuries.

Until Thursday, it was under the control of the Orthodox church loyal to Moscow, whose priests are widely suspected across Ukraine of harbouring pro-Kremlin sympathies.