Air raid alerts sound throughout Ukraine; multiple cities hit

BREAKBREAK,

Explosions reported in central and southern cities, including Dnipro and Mykolaiv, according to the Interfax Ukraine news agency.

Air raid sirens have sounded throughout Ukraine and explosions have been reported in several cities.

Explosions were heard in Dnipro, Kremenchuk and Poltava in central Ukraine in the early hours of Friday, the Interfax Ukraine news agency reported. According to social media outlets, explosions were also heard in Mykolaiv in the south, as well as in Kiev and the surrounding region.

“Wake up to explosions,” a Kiev resident told Al Jazeera via text message. “It felt like an earthquake.”

Authorities in the capital said air defense systems were working.

There are no immediate reports on the extent of the damage or any casualties.

The raids come as Ukraine prepares for a major counter-offensive to retake Russian-held territory in the east and south of the country.

More to come…