"Kyiv is being attacked by enemy missiles," the city's military authorities said in a post on Telegram.

They said damage had been reported in at least two districts and called on residents to take shelter.

Flights of drones could also be heard across the city.

In a bomb shelter set up in a basement of a residential building, over a dozen residents gathered after the air alert started, an AFP journalist witnessed.

City mayor Vitali Klitschko said a three-year-old child had been taken to hospital, later adding that at least 21 people were injured.

"The 21st casualty was already hospitalised," Klitschko said.

Kyiv was last hit by missiles on April 5 when at least three people were wounded.

It has been the target of sporadic attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In Ukraine's east, the city of Kharkiv was hit by seven missiles, city mayor Igor Terekhov said.

Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Russia was attacking Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities "with missiles and drones right now".

"Putin shows only a desire to kill," he said. "The attacks on civilians must stop."