Blast kills official in occupied city in eastern Ukraine

There have been a series of assassinations in occupied Ukraine and inside Russia during Moscow's full-scale offensive that have been linked to or claimed by Kyiv's security services.

"Today, as a result of a vile attack in the centre of Lugansk, the former head of the administration of our regional capital, Manolis Pilavov, was killed," the Russian-backed head of the region, Leonid Pasechnik, said on Telegram.

He said Pilavov had led the city's administration for nine years.

"I am sure that after a thorough investigation of all the circumstances of the explosion, the guilty will be found and definitely will bear the deserved punishment," Pasechnik said.

Local authorities said that three other people were wounded, with one person in serious condition.

Kyiv has so far not commented on Pivalov's death.

Lugansk fell to pro-Russian separatists in 2014.

Moscow's Ukraine offensive has dragged on for almost three and a half years.