Russia pounds Ukraine's two biggest cities in new wave of attacks

Firefighters work at a site of a residential building heavily damaged during a Russian missile attack, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine January 2, 2024. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

KYIV (Reuters) -Russia pounded Ukraine's two biggest cities on Tuesday in a new wave of heavy air strikes that killed at least five civilians and prompted calls for the West to quickly provide more military assistance.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry said 135 people had been injured in the latest missile and drone attacks, including 61 in and around Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city in the northeast and 17 in and around the capital, Kyiv.