Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities came under attack overnight, with reports of explosions and a nationwide air alert issued early Saturday. As Ukrainian forces engaged incoming drones and missiles, officials urged residents to take shelter, highlighting the persistent danger faced by civilians throughout the country. The attacks occur days before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss potential paths toward resolving the nearly two-year-long conflict.
“Explosions in the capital. Air defense forces are operating. Please remain in shelters!” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.
“Please remain in safe locations! The enemy is attacking the capital,” said Timur Tkatchenko, head of the local military administration.
Ukraine’s Air Force also announced a nationwide air alert early Saturday, reporting that drones and missiles were flying over various regions of Ukraine, including the capital.
AFP journalists in Kyiv heard several loud explosions around 1:30 a.m. local time (11:30 p.m. GMT Friday), some accompanied by intense flashes of light.
The air alert comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to meet with President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to discuss a proposed plan to end the fighting that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 2022. Russia on Friday accused Zelenskyy and its European Union allies of attempting to “sabotage” the U.S.-mediated plan. The latest proposal is a 20-point plan that would freeze the war along the current front lines, but would open the way for Ukraine to withdraw troops from the east, where demilitarized buffer zones could be created, Zelenskyy detailed earlier this week.
Kyiv came under attack early Saturday, with residents urged to seek shelter as air defense systems were activated, officials reported. The attacks come at a sensitive moment as Ukraine seeks to bolster international support for its defense against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
“Explosions in the capital. Air defense forces are operating. Please remain in shelters!” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated on Telegram. Timur Tkatchenko, head of the local military administration, echoed the warning, urging residents to “remain in safe locations! The enemy is attacking the capital.”
According to early reports, AFP journalists in Kyiv heard multiple strong explosions around 1:30 a.m. local time (11:30 p.m. GMT Friday), with some accompanied by bright flashes.
The Ukrainian Air Force announced a nationwide air alert shortly after midnight, indicating the presence of drones and missiles over multiple regions, including Kyiv. The development underscores the continued threat facing Ukrainian cities and the ongoing intensity of the conflict.
The air raid sirens sound as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday. The two leaders are expected to discuss a proposed peace plan aimed at resolving the war, which began in 2022 and has resulted in significant casualties.
Russia has accused Zelenskyy and its allies in the European Union of attempting to undermine the U.S.-mediated plan. Zelenskyy this week outlined the proposal as a 20-point framework that would freeze the conflict along the current front lines, potentially allowing for Ukrainian troop withdrawals from the east and the establishment of demilitarized buffer zones. The announcement could influence future diplomatic talks and the trajectory of the war.
