According to local authorities, Ukraine’s capital Kyiv was hit by a “huge” drone strike from Russia overnight, the biggest since the war began with Moscow. The parliament of Ukraine said 54 missiles were fired by Russian forces on Saturday night, and Ukraine’s “air defence” system “shot down” 52 of them. Serhii Popko, a high-ranking military official in Kyiv, said the missiles were Shahed drones made in Iran.

This information has not been independently confirmed according to AP News.

A man, 41, was killed by drone debris that landed near a gas station in the city, Kyiv’s mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said. A 35-year-old woman was also hurt in the same attack.

Mr Klitschko used Telegram, a messaging app, to alert people of “a new wave of drones” during the strikes.

“Stay in shelters. Do not neglect your safety. The night will be difficult,” he wrote.

The reported attack happened on the morning of ‘Kyiv Day’, the anniversary of the city’s founding, Ukraine’s ministry of foreign affairs said.

The day is usually celebrated with live concerts, street fairs, exhibitions and fireworks. This year, the city’s 1,541st anniversary had planned for smaller festivities.

Ukraine’s ministry of internal affairs said its personnel have been “working” at sites hit by missiles and falling debris.