Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv came under a massive Russian attack early on Saturday, with explosions reported across the city and air defence systems activated, according to Ukrainian officials. Residents were urged to remain inside shelters as missiles and drones moved across multiple regions of the country. 

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the situation through a message posted on Telegram. “Explosions in the capital. Air defence forces are operating. Stay in shelters!” he said, warning people to remain indoors for their safety. 

The Ukrainian air force announced a nationwide air alert in the early hours of Saturday. In a statement shared on social media, it said that Russian drones and missiles were detected moving across several regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv. The alert covered the entire country, indicating the scale of the attack. 

Reuters eyewitnesses in the capital reported that air defence systems were actively responding to the assault. Meanwhile, journalists from AFP who were present in Kyiv said they heard multiple loud explosions. Some of the blasts were accompanied by bright flashes that lit up the horizon with an orange glow, suggesting heavy military activity in and around the city. 

The attack comes at a sensitive time, just two days before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet United States President Donald Trump in the US. According to earlier statements, the meeting is expected to focus on working out details of an agreement aimed at settling the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which has lasted nearly four years. 

Russia has reacted sharply to these developments. On Friday, Moscow accused President Zelenskyy and his European Union supporters of trying to block the peace efforts being led by the United States. Russia said Mr Zelenskyy and his EU backers were seeking to “torpedo” the US-brokered peace plan. 

Details of the proposed plan were revealed by Zelenskyy earlier this week. The plan reportedly includes a 20-point proposal that would freeze the war along its current front line. It also leaves open the possibility for Ukraine to pull back troops from eastern areas of the country. According to the proposal, demilitarised buffer zones could be created in those regions as part of the arrangement. 

The Russian attack on Kyiv appears to have taken place against this backdrop of diplomatic activity and rising political tension. While the peace proposal has been discussed publicly, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with ongoing military actions and continued threats to civilian areas. 

The explosions and air defence activity early Saturday underline the continuing intensity of the conflict. Residents of Kyiv were left on high alert as authorities worked to respond to the attack and ensure public safety. 

No additional details about damage or casualties were immediately available. The situation remained under close observation as air defence systems continued to operate and warnings stayed in effect.