The attacks on the capital Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv came less than 24 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would intensify strikes.
"One wounded elderly woman from a building in the Solomyansky district... died in an ambulance. Twenty-seven wounded people were hospitalised," Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitschko said.
Ukraine's interior minister Igor Klymenko said two people were killed in the Kyiv region.
National energy company Ukrenergo said 250,000 consumers were without electricity in Kyiv and surrounding areas after the strikes. Temperatures in the region were hovering around three degrees Celsius (37.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
The head of Kharkiv Oleg Sinegubov said one woman was killed in the northeastern city in attacks denounced Tuesday by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "Russian terror".
Kyiv authorities said missiles caused fires in a supermarket building, houses and a market.
Strikes in Kharkiv wounded over 40 people and damaged multi-storey buildings, said the head of the city's military administration, Oleg Sinegubov.
The Ukrainian air force said Russia was launching Kinzhal missiles.
In a sign of growing concern, Poland on Tuesday scrambled four F-16 fighter jets to its border with Ukraine to protect its airspace.
Poland -- a NATO and EU member -- is a staunch ally of Ukraine as the Russian invasion nears its second anniversary.
During the last wave of deadly attacks on Ukraine on Friday, Poland said a Russian missile had passed through its airspace.
Tuesday's attacks came after an escalation in the war in recent days.
Putin on Monday called an unprecedented Ukrainian attack on the Russian city of Belgorod a "terrorist act" and vowed retaliation.
Moscow also attacked Ukraine with a barrage of drones on New Year's Eve.
Ukraine is seeking assurances from its backers that military aid will continue as any new budget for support is stalled in Washington.
- 'Critical we support Ukraine' -
"Putin is ringing in 2024 by launching missiles at Kyiv and around the country as millions of Ukrainians take shelter in freezing temps. Loud explosions in Kyiv this morning," US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink wrote on X.
"It's urgent and critical that we support Ukraine now -- to stop Putin here."
Kyiv mayor Klitschko reported multiple explosions and debris from downed missiles hitting the capital as residents were advised to stay in underground shelters.
In the Pechersk district, debris hit the roof of a nine-storey building and another building, the military administration said.
Fires also broke out in a supermarket and a warehouse measuring 2,000 square metres, the mayor said.
"As soon as the security situation allows it, we will definitely restore electricity to everyone," the city's military administration said.
In the city's Podil district, main water pipes have been damaged, it added.
The attacks came after Russia on December 29 launched a wave of strikes across Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, which killed 39 people.
Moscow also hit Ukrainian cities on New Year's Eve, with Kyiv saying it had foiled a "record" number of drones launched by Russia.
Zelensky denounces 'Russian terror' campaign
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Jan 2, 2024 -
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced "Russian terror" Tuesday as fresh missile strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv killed at least four people after Moscow intensified its campaign in a nearly two-year-old war.
Zelensky thanked Kyiv's allies providing air defence, saying: "It is obvious that this helps save hundreds of lives every day and every night that would have been taken by Russian terror if not for (US-made) Patriots and other defence systems."
Russian missile attacks kill four in Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Jan 2, 2024 -
Russian missile attacks on Ukraine Tuesday killed four people, including one in Kyiv, and wounded 27 others in the capital, officials said.
Russia hit Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv with a barrage of missiles on Tuesday morning.
"One wounded elderly woman from a building in the Solomyansky district... died in an ambulance. Twenty-seven wounded people were hospitalised," Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitschko said.
Ukraine's interior minister Igor Klymenko said two people were killed in the Kyiv region.
The head of Kharkiv Oleg Sinegubov said one woman was killed in an attack on the northeastern city.
The attacks came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to intensify strikes on Ukraine.
Both sides hit each other with deadly attacks in recent days, as Moscow's invasion nears its second anniversary.
Russia says downed four missiles fired by Ukraine on border region
Moscow (AFP) Jan 2, 2024 -
Moscow said Tuesday it downed four missiles fired by Kyiv over Russia's Belgorod border region, hours after Russia hit Ukraine with a barrage of missiles.
Belgorod has been targeted by Ukraine for months and was hit by an unprecedented attack last week that killed 25 people.
"Four missiles were destroyed over the Belgorod region by air defence systems on duty," the Russian army said in a statement, adding the attack happened around 12:00 pm local time (0900 GMT).
It said Kyiv fired "Vilkha" ballistic missiles.
The attack came as Russian strikes on Kyiv and the northeastern city of Kharkiv killed at least five people.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday vowed to intensify strikes on Ukraine in a campaign that has dragged on for nearly two years.
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