Multiple explosions in Kyiv as Ukraine reports kamikaze drone strikes

At least three explosions have been heard in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after air raid sirens went off.

Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said residential buildings in the central Shevchenkivskiy area had been damaged.

Andriy Yermak, head of President Zelensky’s office, said the attacks were from so-called kamikaze drones.

It comes a week after the capital was hit by several Russian missiles at rush hour, in a nationwide attack that left 19 dead.

The explosions on Monday happened at around 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT).

Writing on the Telegram social media site, Klitschko said they were in the Shevchenkivskiy district, which was hit by several strikes last week.

He said rescuers were on site, and told residents to stay in air raid shelters.

Yermak said on Telegram that the attack was from kamikaze drones and that Ukraine needed more air defense systems “as soon as possible”.

The drones, reportedly supplied to Russia by Iran, can hover for hours before diving into targets and exploding. Ukraine says Russia has used them before.

Iran denies supplying them to Russia, and Russia has not commented.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week’s strikes were in retaliation for the bombing of a key bridge linking Russia to occupied Crimea, which he blamed on Ukraine.

It was the first time during the war that the center of Kyiv had been directly targeted.

Earlier this week, Putin said there was no need for more large-scale strikes on Ukraine.

Most designated targets had been hit, he said, adding that it was not his aim to destroy the country.

Agencies