Fire breaks out in central Kyiv after explosion during air raid alert
A fire erupted in central Kyiv following an explosion during an air raid warning, and President Zelensky cut short a Dublin visit due to intelligence of an imminent massive Russian attack.
A fire broke out in central Kyiv after an explosion during an air raid alert, according to an AFP reporter at the scene. The journalist heard a blast and saw a cloud of smoke and flames. Fire crews and ambulances quickly arrived to respond.
The Ukrainian capital has endured frequent deadly air strikes for over four years since Russia's invasion began. On Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced he was rushing home from a visit to Dublin because intelligence indicated Russia was preparing a massive attack. "I urge our people to be especially careful, to protect themselves, their children, and, of course, their families; to use shelters and heed air raid alerts in Ukraine -- this is very important," he told a news conference. He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin "has been preparing this massive strike against Ukraine for some time now."
US-led peace efforts have so far failed to broker an end to Europe's largest conflict since World War II.
