International Desk : At least 12 people have been killed in a barrage of missiles and drones strike across Ukraine as Kyiv prepares an expected counteroffensive.

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The deadly attack included a strike on a residential building and came days after the leaders of Ukraine and China spoke by phone, with Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly advocating peace negotiations.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said missile strikes killing innocent Ukrainians in their sleep, including a 2-years-old child, is Russia's response to all peace initiatives.

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While Russia regularly bombed Ukrainian cities and infrastructure over the winter, the massive strikes had tailed off in recent months.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the latest barrage and vowed a response to "Russian terror".

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Most fighting is now taking place in the east for control of the industrial Donbas region, particularly the city of Bakhmut, which has been almost completely destroyed.

Sun News/MR

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