Russian missile attack hits infrastructure in Kyiv, explosions in Dniprovskiy

A series of explosions were heard in Kyiv on Saturday morning before the air raid sirens were turned on, reported the Associated Press.

Deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said on Telegram that a missile attack on critical infrastructure in the capital was underway.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said that “explosions were heard in Dniprovskyi district, on the left bank of Kyiv.”

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the explosions were caused by the strikes or by air defense systems operating. The Ukrainian capital hasn’t been attacked since New Year’s night.

This comes a day after Russia’s defence ministry said its forces captured the Ukrainian town of Soledar, but Ukraine denied the claim and said “severe” fighting is ongoing in the area. The nearly destroyed town in eastern Ukraine has recently become the epicentre of the war.

Russia’s announcement that it had captured Soledar was Moscow’s first claim of victory after months of setbacks on the battlefield. The defence ministry announced that “the liberation of the city of Soledar” was completed on the evening of January 12. It added that the capture of Soledar would pave the way for more “successful offensive operations” in the region.