Zelenskiy warns Russia of strong response to independence day attacks

Ukrainian president defiant as officials report Moscow is preparing strikes on capital and infrastructure

• Russia-Ukraine war - latest updates

Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that any attacks by Russia on the country's independence day would be met with a powerful response as Ukraine prepared to mark 31 years since the end of Soviet rule.

The Ukrainian president's defiant message followed warnings from western and Ukrainian officials that Russia was preparing to once again attack the capital, Kyiv, on the date that also marks six months since the 24 February invasion. The US on Tuesday urged all its citizens to leave the country, saying it believed Russia would target civilian and government infrastructure in the next few days.