Russia has launched a series of missile and artillery attacks on Ukraine, the second pre-dawn attack in three days.

One person died in Kherson region and 25 people – including three children – were injured in Dnipropetrovsk.

Ukraine’s armed forces said 15 of 18 missiles fired were intercepted by the country’s air defence.

One of the main targets was the city of Pavlohrad near Dnipro – a Russian-installed official said resources for a Ukrainian offensive were hit.

Writing on Telegram with a thumbs-up gesture, Vladimir Rogov said missiles targeted railway infrastructure and fuel depots.

Nineteen high-rise apartment blocks, 25 private houses, six schools and kindergartens and five shops were also damaged.

Ukraine’s military has for some time spoken about a major counter-offensive – without specifying where and when it could be launched.

Pavlohrad is in Ukrainian-held territory, around 70 miles (110km) from the frontline.

Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk military administration described it as a “tragic night and morning”.

Elsewhere, Kyiv city military administration head Serhiy Popko said missiles were shot down in Kyiv airspace, too.

In the Kherson region – which is still partly controlled by Russia – a Ukrainian regional authorities said Russian had carried out 39 shellings.

They came from ground-based weapons, as well as drones and planes, the authorities said.

The latest round of pre-dawn missile strikes comes just days after 23 people were killed in strikes targeting the central city of Uman.

On Friday, Russia said its military was targeting Ukrainian army reserve units.

Ukraine’s air defence systems have been strengthened in recent months as more Western equipment arrives in the country.

Russian officials said four were killed in a Russian border village from a Ukrainian air strike on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian official on Monday said the army had ousted Russian forces from some positions in Bakhmut, an eastern city that has been under siege for months.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of ground forces, said on Telegram the situation remained “quite difficult” – but “the enemy is unable to take control of the city”.

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