Ukraine: Explosions shake Kyiv while battles rage in east

A number of explosions shook parts of Kyiv early on Sunday in the first assault on Ukraine’s capital for weeks.

Columns of black smoke could be seen above the city – Russia says it hit tanks supplied by European countries. At least one person was reported hurt.

The city has been largely spared in recent months as Russian forces concentrate attacks in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

Some of the fiercest fighting are currently in the city of Severodonetsk.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation there remained “extremely difficult” with fighting being waged street by street.

Capturing the city would deliver the Luhansk region to Russian forces and their local separatist allies, who also control much of neighboring Donetsk.

Severodonetsk and other cities in the eastern regions were being hit by “constant air strikes, artillery, and missile fire” but Ukrainian forces were holding their ground, Zelensky said.

On Saturday, Luhansk’s governor said Ukrainian forces were still holding on to Severodonetsk but were awaiting precision weapons donated by Western allies.

“As soon as we have enough Western long-range weapons, we will push their artillery away from our positions. And then, believe me, the Russian infantry, they will just run,” Serhiy Haidai said.

The fighting has now left most of Severodonetsk in ruins, but thousands of civilians are still sheltering in basements there.

Governor Haidai said Russian forces were blowing up bridges on the river to prevent Ukraine from bringing in military reinforcements and delivering aid to civilians.