Four airfields hit in multiple Kyiv assaults inside Russia

VOLODYMYR Zelensky's forces blitzed Russia with huge missile and drone strikes across at least nine regions early yesterday.

- Mark Reynolds

At least four airfields were targeted as a second regional governor declared a state of emergency. They included Savasleyka military base in Nizhny Novgorod, home to hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and MiG-31K aircraft used to bomb Ukraine.

Some of the drone strikes were hundreds of miles inside Russian territory.

President Zelensky admitted that thousands of his troops were now locked in "difficult and fierce battles".

Ukraine claimed to have already gained control of more than 70 settlements, taking more than 100 Kremlin soldiers prisoner.