KYIV: Citizens across Ukraine have been asked to take cover as blasts sound countrywide and blasts are reported in the capital city. The city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko said in a statement via his social media account that at least 10 explosions have been reported in the city.
He said that one of the blasts rang out between residential buildings in the Solomyansk area of the capital.
Blasts kill one in Kyiv
He added: “Blasts also took place in Pechersk and Holosiivsk districts. There is only destruction. Rescue teams and medics follow to the areas.” He claimed that at least one person was killed and several others wounded.
Ukrainian officials said that the reports come following a series of Russian missile attacks in last several days, with Thursday seeing the most intense aerial attacks of the war to date. A presidential aide, in Kyiv, told the media a hotel was among the buildings to have been destroyed in the latest attack.
The governor of the Kyiv region has warned shortly beforehand of a possible incoming missile strike, and that air defense systems in the region were engaging targets.
The latest attack took place as Russian President Vladimir Putin used a New Year broadcast to the people of Russia to reiterate that Moscow was fighting in Ukraine to safeguard its “motherland” and to protect “true independence” for Russian.
In his New Year’s message – the Russian President accused the Western countries of lying to Moscow and of provoking Russia to start what they (Russians) call a “special military operation” against Ukraine.
He said that for years, Western elites hypocritically assured them of their peaceful intentions. He further added that the Western countries lied about peace and were preparing for aggression and now the West is cynically using the people of Ukraine to split Russia.
He said that they have never permitted this, and will never allow anyone to do this to them,” Russia’s state-run news agencies said.
However, the West and Kyiv have dismissed Russia’s claims over the start of the war and say Russian President Putin started a baseless war of aggression in an attempt to seize territory and topple President of Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
