The Ukrainian capital Kyiv has come under a massive Russian attack early on Saturday, with explosions heard in the city, air defences in operation and the Ukrainian military saying missiles are being deployed.
“Explosions in the capital. Air defence forces are operating. Stay in shelters!” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.
Ukraine’s air force also announced a countrywide air alert in the early hours of Saturday and said on social media that drones and missiles were moving over several Ukrainian regions, including the capital.
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Reuters eyewitnesses said air defences were in action in the city.Â
AFP journalists in Kyiv heard several loud explosions, some accompanied by bright flashes that lit the horizon orange.
The Russian action took place two days before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would meet with President Donald Trump in the United States to work out details of an accord for settling the nearly four-year-old war pitting Russia against Ukraine.
Russia accused Mr Zelenskyy and his EU backers on Friday of seeking to “torpedo” the US-brokered plan.
The latest plan is a 20-point proposal that would freeze the war on its current front line but open the door for Ukraine to pull back troops from the east, where demilitarised buffer zones could be created, according to details revealed by Mr Zelenskyy this week.
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Reuters, AFP