Ukraine independence day overshadowed by fear of Russian attacks

Kyiv celebrations cancelled over concerns of Russian provocations' as US expected to announce further $3bn in aid

• Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates

Air raid sirens sounded across every metre of Ukrainian-controlled territory as the country marked six months since Moscow's invasion on a sombre independence day, overshadowed by warnings of brutal" attacks.

The sense of foreboding was deepened by a warning from the White House that the Russians had stepped up preparations to hold sham referenda in occupied regions as a precursor to annexations, and that they could begin in a matter of days or weeks".