Explosions heard in Kyiv, air raid alert sounds: AFP

Kyiv: Explosions rang out over the Ukrainian capital Kyiv late Wednesday and air raid sirens sounded, as officials urged residents to take shelter over the threat of a Russian aerial attack.

AFP journalists in central Kyiv reported hearing loud blasts echo over the city while Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defence systems had opened fire.

He said emergency services were working on the scene where debris from a Russian drone had been shot down.

Ukrainian officials have been appealing to the country’s Western allies for more air defence systems to thwart a spate of fatal Russian drone and missile attacks.

Kyiv was rocked last week by a Russian missile barrage that devastated a renowned children’s hospital and sparked a wave of international condemnation.

The Kremlin said the damage to the facility in the centre of the capital had been caused by Ukrainian air defence systems.