Conflict & Security
Kyiv explosions and fire reported after missile warning
Several explosions were heard in Kyiv early Sunday after authorities in Ukraine's capital warned of incoming ballistic missiles and urged residents to go to shelters.
Kyiv's military administration said on Telegram at around 2:00 am local time, 2300 GMT, that an air raid alert was in effect because of a ballistic missile threat. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in the capital and said it was under ballistic missile attack.
Klitschko and authorities said a fire later broke out in a non-residential building in the Obolonsky district. They did not specify any casualties.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in posts on the state-backed MAX platform that Russian forces downed around 28 drones flying towards Moscow.
Russia has increasingly used long-range missiles in its war against Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly struck Russian oil refineries and military infrastructure, while Moscow has continued its offensive in eastern Ukraine and launched barrages on cities including Kyiv, at times using North Korean ballistic missiles, according to Ukrainian officials.
Update
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said explosions were heard in the capital and described the city as being under ballistic missile attack.
Klitschko and authorities said a fire broke out in a non-residential building in Kyiv's Obolonsky district.
No casualties were specified in the supplied information.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian forces downed around 28 drones flying towards Moscow.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 August 2026 at 00:38:48 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Authorities did not specify whether there were casualties from the fire in Obolonsky district.
The supplied information does not specify damage beyond the reported fire in a non-residential building.
Source
AFP news report published on .