Reports of explosions in north-west Kiev
Videos have been circulating online showing what appears to be a series of explosions in the Ukrainian capital on Saturday night. The blasts are reportedly concentrated in the north-west area of Kiev.
It is alleged that they took place near Beresteiska metro station, which is located next to a military facility. An eyewitness can be heard saying in one of the videos shared online that the sounds of explosions appear to come from the direction of the base.
Another video purports to show a blaze raging in the middle of the road.
RT cannot independently verify the videos.
Russia’s “special operation” in Ukraine is now in its third day after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a military action aimed at “demilitarizing” and “denazifying” the country. Moscow has said the offensive was a necessary measure to protect the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics in the Donbass, which formally requested Russian military assistance this week against “Ukrainian aggression.”
The Kremlin had argued that Kiev was poised to reclaim the Donbass republics – which split from Kiev following the US-backed coup in Ukraine in 2014 – by force as one of the reasons behind the urgent military action. The government of President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, denied having any such plans.
The Russian operation has since expanded into Ukrainian territory, with the Russian military confirming it is targeting Kiev’s military positions all over the country, insisting the strikes are aimed at military infrastructure only. Responding to claims of civilian casualties from the military operation on Friday, Moscow’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said there has been “no reliable evidence of civilian deaths.”
Western powers, including the US, UK, EU, Canada, and NATO, have imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia’s economy and government, including on President Vladimir Putin personally.
A spokesperson for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that the president was willing to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia and that a date and venue were being discussed. Moscow, however, claimed that Kiev suggested postponing discussing the issue while initially agreeing to negotiations.
