Several explosions sounded early Thursday morning in the centre of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv following an air alert prompted by missiles and drones launched by Russia.

Ukraine mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that an apartment building and cars in other areas were on fire, with emergency services on their way.

Reports had it that rocket fragments fell on a kindergarten in Sviatoshynskyi District, as the last major Russian strikes on the Ukrainian capital took place at the end of January.