Spokesman for the Chernigiv region’s emergency services, Oleksandr Ivchenko, said “eight people were killed and 12 were injured” during the Russian attack on the village of Desna.

The rare strikes in the northern Chernigiv region come weeks after Russia withdrew troops from there, instead focusing their military efforts on the eastern Donbas region.

Desna, approximately 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of the Ukraine capital Kyiv, is home to a large military training centre.

The Chernigiv region’s governor earlier Tuesday had announced what he described as missile strikes on Desna, saying, “the war is not over”.

“The war has not left the region. The war has not left our cities,” he said, urging residents to “be careful” and listen for air raid sirens.