'Explosions' in Kyiv, strikes in other Ukraine regions

A fresh barrage of Russian strikes hit several cities including the Ukraine capital Kyiv early Friday, officials said, leading to water and power cuts in many areas, reports AFP.

"Due to damage to energy infrastructure, there are interruptions to the water supplies in all areas of the capital," Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on social media, after telling residents that "metro traffic is temporarily stopped on all lines."

AFP journalists heard at least one loud explosion in the centre of Kyiv, with electricity supplies disrupted.

Klitschko said explosions took place in several districts of the capital and warned residents to "not leave shelters!" as strikes were ongoing.
Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv reported power cuts as did the cities of Poltava and Kremenchuk.

"Kharkiv has no electricity," its mayor Igor Terekhov said on Telegram.
An aide to the Ukrainian presidency, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said on Telegram that "an apartment building" in the southern city of Kryvyi Rig had been "hit".

"There is damage. There may be people under the rubble," he added, indicating that "emergency services are on site."

Meanwhile Ukraine's railway operator reported that due to "damage to the energy infrastructure" several of its railways had to run on reserve locomotives.

Multiple strikes also targeted the Zaporizhzhia region, where Europe's biggest nuclear plant is located, according to his governor Oleksandr Starukh.