A dozen other people were injured, some seriously, in the attack in the city of Sumy, which has come under increased bombardment since Ukraine’s offensive into Russia’s nearby Kursk region.

Russia said it was working to repel a Ukrainian drone attack on Toropets, where there's a major military depot, as explosions lit up the night.

Ukraine's air force said on Thursday it had shot down all 42 drones and one of four missiles used by Russia during overnight attacks. Air defences went into operation in nine Ukrainian regions, the air force said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app nearly 31 months after Russia's full-scale invasion.