A fire erupted in central Kyiv following an explosion during an air raid alert, according to an AFP reporter who witnessed the incident.
The journalist heard a detonation and observed a large cloud of smoke and flames. Emergency services, including fire crews and ambulances, responded swiftly to the scene.
Kyiv has endured frequent deadly air strikes since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began more than four years ago.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Wednesday that he was returning from a visit to Dublin after receiving intelligence reports indicating Russia was preparing a significant attack.
“I urge our people to be especially careful, to protect themselves, their children, and, of course, their families; to use shelters and heed air raid alerts in Ukraine — this is very important,” he said at a news conference.
Zelensky stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been preparing this major strike against Ukraine for some time.
US peace negotiations have yet to succeed in ending Europe’s most severe conflict since World War II.