Russia's Defence Ministry has just confirmed the strikes on Lutsk and Ivano-Frankivsk, local media is reporting.

Moscow defence officials were quoted as saying their "high-precision, long-range attacks" had struck two military airfields in the cities in Ukraine's west.

As we've reported previously, this marks new territory for the Russian attack which has previously focused on the Kyiv capital and cities in the east and south of Ukraine.

There have been reports of shelling in another city in western Ukraine.

Local media outlets are reporting explosions in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk, in the south-west.

We reported earlier that Lutsk - in the north-west- also saw missile strikes this morning on an airfield.

The cities in the west had previously not been targeted by Russia. Many civilians continue to flee west, to places like Lviv, in search of safety.

We have been bringing you reports of the latest attacks of Russian bombardment on the city of Dnipro in Ukraine's south-eastern region.

We are now getting images and footage showing the extent of the destruction as firefighters battle to extinguish raging fires amid the rubble of the strike.

At least one person has been reported dead in Dnipro so far, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Services.

Image source, Ukraine State Emergency Services

Image source, Ukraine State Emergency Services

Image source, Ukraine State Emergency Services

Image source, Ukraine State Emergency Services

Ukraine's ministry of defence, has in its latest update claimed that Ukrainian prisoners of war are being approached to fight for Russian forces, due to an urgent need to replenish depleted units in the south-eastern region of Rostov.

It added that Russia is appearing to enlist even those with no military experience.

The BBC has been unable to verify these claims.

The statement from the ministry added that there have been reports of Russian forces robbing and executing civilians, in violation of international law.

It added that pro-Russian messages are being spread in Russian-controlled territories, in an attempt to negotiate with local populations.

The statement also said that in the southern Ukrainian territory of Kherson, Russian forces have made attempts to install an police-administrated area, creating a system of commanders to maintain "order" in temporarily occupied settlements

We are receiving more information about the blasts that were earlier reported in the south-eastern Ukrainian territory of Dnipro.

Ukraine's State Emergency Services (SES) report that one person has been killed in Dnipro's Novokodatsky district.

"At about 6.10AM ... there were three airstrikes in the city, hitting a kindergarten and an apartment building", the SES said.

A two-story shoe factory was also hit, setting it ablaze.

Apart from Dnipro, the city of Lutsk, located in the north-western region of Ukraine has also come under aerial bombardment.

More on the reported blasts in the cities of Lutsk and Dnipro.

The Lutsk Mayor has confirmed that the blasts took place near the city airfield.

"Everyone into shelter!" he wrote in a Facebook post, external where he also urged local residents not to publish any photos, addresses or coordinates.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's ICTV channel cited reports that a plant near the airfield was currently on fire.

In Dnipro, three blasts were reported by Ukrainian media, with one apparently hitting a two-storey shoe factory.

The other two explosions were near a kindergarten and a multi-apartment building, according to the reports.

Image source, Ukraine State Emergency Services

The strike in Lutsk targeted an airfield according to locals in the area, BBC Ukraine is reporting.

There are also reports that the Russian strike hit a factory - the only place where certain fighter jet engines can be repaired.

BBC Ukraine says the site was on a list of key strategic assets being targeted by Russia.

There's been reports of blasts in cities on opposite sides of the country in the past half hour.

Ukrainian TV and media outlets are reporting explosions in Lutsk in the north-west, as well as in Dnipro - an inland city located on the river Dnieper and a major stronghold in central-eastern Ukraine.

Neither of these cities have seen direct shelling before.

Air raid sirens had rung out across several cities in Ukraine in the hours prior to the explosions.

We'll bring you the latest information as we find out more.

Image source, Getty Images

The US Senate has overwhelmingly approved a package to provide $13.6bn (£10.3bn) in aid for Ukraine, sending the bill to the White House for President Biden's signature.

The provision is part of a larger government spending bill, and was approved after the ruling Democrats dropped funding for Covid relief due to resistance from opposition Republicans.

“We’re giving the Ukrainians billions for food, medicine, shelter, and support for the over two million refugees who have had to leave Ukraine, as well as funding for weapons transfers like Javelins and Stingers [missiles],” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of the vote.

Image source, Facebook

If you're just catching up, here's what you need to know about day 16 of the Russian invasion:

• Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky has in a video address, external refuted Russian claims that chemical weapons or weapons of mass destruction were developed in Ukraine. He also warned that Russia would get "the most severe sanctions response" if it were to use such weapons against Ukraine
• His comments echo what the US said earlier: that Russia's claims of Ukraine hosting US-backed chemical weapons facilities is a "false flag", intended to justify Russia's possible use of such weapons
• The UN will hold an emergency meeting on Friday, at Russia's request, to discuss their unproven claims
• Satellite images show that Russian soldiers are slowly advancing, and have re-deployed into forests, as they continue to push towards the capital Kyiv
• Putin's forces are reportedly encircling several Ukrainian cities, with emergency officials warning that siege-like tactics mean that cities like Mariupol are running out of food
• Talks between the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine in Turkey ended with leaders saying they see no hope for a lasting ceasefire in the near future
• Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, said it would suspend rules banning violent speech in order to allow users in certain countries to call for the deaths of Russian soldiers
• More western companies have cut ties with Russia, including Western Union, JPMorgan Chase and Warner Music on Thursday

The White House has commented on reports in the past 24 hours that Moscow is considering seizing the assets of Western firms that have left the country

White House Press secretary Jen Psaki has warned, in a series of tweets, external, that such a "lawless" move from Russia would damage its business reputation in the long run.

Every day, we’re seeing more and more firms exiting Russia in protest of its invasion of Ukraine. McDonalds, Western Union, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Warner Music have all signalled that intention recently.

All of these businesses have offices, buildings, factories, storefronts in Russia – these could all be forcibly taken by the state if the reports about Moscow’s intentions are right.

Image source, Getty Images

Ukraine's defence minister has pledged that the newly formed ranks of untrained civilians taking up arms against Russia won't be sent into frontline battles.

"It doesn't make any sense. On the contrary. Our army stops more enemies because it is motivated, better trained and armed," Defence Minister Alexei Reznikov said in a video address.

He added that conscripts should keep the military informed of their whereabouts, and keep in touch with their local recruitment centre.

Over 100,000 Ukrainians have now joined the country's territorial defence unit, he said, adding that more than 200,000 Ukrainian citizens have returned from Europe to help in the fight.

Reznikov also said Russian troops have killed more civilians than members of Ukraine's armed forces.

The casualty figures could not be independently confirmed.

Image source, Getty Images

The World Health Organization (WHO) advised Ukraine to destroy any dangerous pathogens being kept in research laboratories to prevent "any potential spills" that could harm the public, an official told Reuters news agency on Thursday.

Like other countries, Ukraine has public health laboratories that study dangerous diseases in humans and animals, including Covid-19. Some of these labs have received support from the US, EU and WHO in the past.

The labs are now at the centre of a propaganda war between Russia and the West, with Russia accusing Ukraine of hosting US-run biological and chemical weapons facilities.

The WHO official who spoke to Reuters, external did not say when the advice was issued, whether it was followed or what kind of pathogens and toxins were in the Ukrainian labs.

Image source, Reuters

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss Russia's claim that the US is funding the development of biological weapons in Ukraine.

The meeting is being requested by Russia, which Western countries say is fabricating the allegation in order to justify its own possible future use of biological and chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Earlier, Ukraine's president denied Ukraine was producing any such weapons, and accused Russia of preparing to use them on Ukrainian civilians.

Reacting to the news of the meeting, a spokeswoman for the US mission to the UN told AP News that Russia was seeking to "gaslight [deceive] the world or use the UN Security Council as a venue for promoting their disinformation".

Image source, Getty Images

We've been getting a snapshot of the huge challenges facing humanitarian workers in Ukraine as they try to get to children who are in desperate need.

Speaking from the western city of Lviv, Murat Sahin from Unicef said it was horrifying to see babies born in hospital basements and children in houses without heating or electricity in such cold temperatures.

Unicef's network of 20,000 doctors and nurses across Ukraine were receiving hundreds of calls and messages every minute, he said.

His team have been trying to get supplies and essential medical kits to the capital, Kyiv, and the port city of Mariupol, but cannot get there.

"We've been calling for peace so we can have safe exit for women and children, and we are taking all the risks we can but there are supplies getting stuck in warehouses," he said.

There was no safety for humanitarian workers nor children in Ukraine, he said.

Footage has been shared by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine showing disposal experts defusing a bomb.

The device is reported to have dropped in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, from a Russian plane that was downed.

It is not clear when the video was filmed.

Image source, Facebook/Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky has hit back at Russian claims that Ukraine is developing chemical or biological weapons on its territory with US help.

"Allegedly, we are preparing a chemical attack," he says in a video address.

"This makes me really worried, because we’ve been repeatedly convinced: if you want to know Russia's plans, look at what Russia accuses others of [doing]."

"What are these allegations of preparing chemical attacks?" he continues.

"Have you decided to carry out 'de-chemicalisation' of Ukraine? Using ammonia? Using phosphorus? What else have you prepared for us?"

"No chemical or any other weapons of mass destruction were developed on my land," he says.

In his address, he also said that 40,000 people were evacuated with the help of the Ukrainian government on Thursday, adding up to 100,000 in the past two days.

He said that Ukrainian forces had also managed to deliver vital aid, including food and medicine, to cities under attack.

But he added that Mariupol and nearby Volnovakha both "remain completely blocked".

Ukraine's Air Force says it hit 10 Russian warplanes and destroyed two large armoury convoys on Thursday.

In a statement, it says that Su-25 jets and a Su-34 were hit. One of the warplanes was shot down by a Stinger man-portable missile.

Ukraine provided no details about the targets' location.

Russia's military has not commented on the report, which has not been independently verified.

Image source, Reuters

Satellite images of a Russian convoy near Kyiv appear to show forces redeploying to nearby areas, potentially signalling a renewed push towards the Ukrainian capital.

According to Maxar Technologies, elements of the convoy - which was last seen north-west of nearby Antonov Airport - have moved into positions in surrounding towns.

Maxar said that images also show other parts of the convoy to the north have positioned themselves near Lubyanka, and set up artillery positions nearby.

Earlier on Thursday, a senior US defence official said that Russian forces have moved three miles (5km) closer to Kyiv in the past 24 hours.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Ukraine says a nuclear research facility has been bombed by Russian forces, accusing Moscow of "nuclear terrorism".

Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate said the facility in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv had lost power and suffered "superficial" damage during shelling late on Thursday.

No injuries or fatalities have been reported.

Russia has so far made no public comment on the issue.

Image source, Reuters

On 3 March, another facility, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in south-eastern Ukraine, was damaged by artillery fire and captured by Russian forces.

Also on Thursday, the UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, said Ukrainian authorities had informed it that they had lost all communications with the radioactive waste facility at Chernobyl, another nuclear site in Ukraine seized by Russian troops.

In 1986, Chernobyl, in northern Ukraine, was the scene of the world's worst nuclear accident.