Vladimir Putin ordered a lethal overnight missile and drone barrage on Kyiv while a rare cease-fire arranged by Melania Trump began in the occupied town of Oleshky, which is on the brink of disaster.

Russian missiles and kamikaze drones hit the capital in a harsh overnight attack that left a 46-year-old woman dead and at least 14 people injured.

The strikes ripped through university dormitories, residential blocks and key infrastructure, trapping many students under rubble and forcing terrified civilians to seek cover.

Putin's assault coincided with a temporary cease-fire brokered by the US First Lady that took effect at 3 am on Tuesday in Oleshky, where roughly 1,700 civilians remain trapped in dire conditions.

The pause was intended to allow humanitarian aid into the Russian-occupied town and help civilians escape.

No violations were reported during the first four hours of the fragile truce.

The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed the "bilateral cease-fire" on Tuesday, and the Russian Defence Ministry said fighting had stopped in the area to enable the humanitarian mission.

About 1,700 civilians are believed to be stranded in Oleshky, facing dwindling food, scarce medicine and limited electricity, running water or medical care.

Reports say starving locals are forced to eat boiled grass as the risk of starvation grows.

While Oleshky enjoys a brief respite, chaos continued in the capital.

Putin's forces targeted Ukraine's energy network, threatening to plunge millions into darkness as winter approaches.

Explosions shook several Kyiv districts as ballistic missiles struck buildings, and emergency crews rushed to rescue survivors.

Students suffered heavily after a missile hit near the State University of Trade and Economics, breaking windows and damaging dorms.

A 20-year-old woman was taken to hospital, and several other students were injured on the campus.

An ambulance crew was also caught in the assault, leaving a paramedic and an emergency medical technician wounded.

Elsewhere, a three-storey building was partially destroyed, with rescuers finding a body in its basement.

A vehicle burst into flames near Lisova metro station as the bombardment damaged surrounding infrastructure.

The Southern Bridge in the capital was hit, disrupting road and metro services.

By Tuesday morning, Ukrainian authorities said the death toll had risen to 15, with 12 people taken to hospital.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the bloodshed and warned further strikes could follow. He said: "It is not yet known exactly how many people have been affected. Unfortunately, there are casualties and injuries. Rescue operations are ongoing. There is significant damage, and there are reports that people may be trapped under the rubble."

Zelensky renewed his appeal for Western weapons capable of destroying Russian missile launchers before they can launch more attacks.

Moscow's Defence Ministry confirmed it had carried out a "massive strike with high-precision ground-based weapons and drones."

In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, two civilians were killed overnight when Russian strikes hit residential buildings, and three pensioners and a teenager were wounded.

Oleshky, a frontline city on the east bank of the Dnipro River opposite Ukrainian-held Kherson, fell under Russian occupation in 2022 and has suffered years of war.

The town's plight deepened after the Kakhovka dam was destroyed in 2023, causing catastrophic flooding across the region.