The Ukrainian capital Kiev was rocked by several explosions this evening. AFP journalists saw a drone trying to shoot down Ukrainian air defenses. The city’s military administration said air defenses were deployed over Kiev.
The explosions stopped after about 15 to 20 minutes. The military administration said the air alert had ended. A plume of black smoke hung in the air over the city.
“The enemy drone was shot down,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak. Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported “explosions and fires” in Solomjanskyi district and warned people of possible drone debris.
According to Ukrainian information, Russia had already used up to 24 combat drones against targets in Ukraine during the night, 18 of which were shot down. The head of the Kiev military administration, Serhiy Popko, said the capital had not experienced “such an intensity of attacks” as in the past few days since the beginning of the year.
