Western media as well as Russian media outlets have reported that Thursday's sinking of the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet is likely to have an impact on Russia's military operations in Ukraine.

The cruiser Moskva sank after apparently being hit by Ukrainian cruise missiles. The ship had served a key role as both a command vessel and air defense platform for the fleet.

Experts say its sinking is expected to give an advantage to Ukraine's air force operations in the fighting in southern Ukraine facing the Black Sea.

The incident is also expected to make it difficult for Russian forces to land along the Black Sea coast in the operations to expand control of the coast and seize the port city of Odesa.

Observers say the sinking of the symbolic ship could also affect the morale of Russian troops.

Under these circumstances, Russian forces have resumed missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, raising concern over further casualties among civilians in the region.

Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that its troops conducted missile attacks on various locations around Ukraine, and shot down a Ukrainian SU-25 aircraft in Izyum in the eastern region of Kharkiv, as well as a Ukrainian transport plane in the southern region of Odesa.

The Russian Defense Ministry also claimed that its troops have besieged a steel plant in the eastern key city of Mariupol, used by Ukrainian forces as a stronghold, and are poised to gain total control of the city.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that elimination of his country's last remaining troops in Mariupol would put an end to talks with Russia.

He stressed that his country would not hesitate to end negotiations if Russian attacks cause a large number of casualties among Ukrainian troops in Mariupol.

Russian forces say they attacked a missile manufacturing plant near Kyiv on Friday, and destroyed an armored vehicle plant in Kyiv the following day.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a social media post that explosions in the suburbs of the city on Saturday morning left one person dead and some others wounded.