Russia launched an intense missile and drone barrage at the Ukrainian capital in the early hours of Friday and three people were killed, Ukrainian officials said, as powerful explosions reverberated across the country.

Ukraine’s recent attacks on Russian air bases and the Kerch Bridge in Crimea may have complicated the peace process and appear to have provided Russian President Vladimir Putin with an excuse to escalate the conflict.

In their first call, Pope Leo emphasized dialogue with Putin about the Ukraine war, while the Kremlin leader claimed Kyiv was escalating the conflict after recent infrastructure attacks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Pope Leo for offering to help settle the Ukraine conflict and told him Kyiv is intent on "escalating" the war, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. A Kremlin statement said they spoke by phone but did not give a date.

Vladimir Putin discussed the war in Ukraine with Pope Leo in a telephone call on Wednesday, with the Kremlin claiming the Russian president wanted peace through diplomacy.