Explosions reported outside Kiev; Russia attacks thermal power plant north of the capital of Ukraine

Explosions have been heard in the Ukrainian capital, which, according to local authorities, are due to Russia trying to attack a thermal power plant, while in Vasilkov, about 37 kilometers from the city, a fierce battle is being waged, according to the armed forces.

“Explosions in Kiev. What is known?” the Kyiv City State Administration wrote on its Telegram account. He explained that the “enemy tries to attack the CHP-6 plant near Troieshchyna “, in the north of the capital. “The armed forces give battle,” she said.

Air-raid alarms sounded in the city to ask citizens to get into shelters. There are also attacks near the Beresteiska metro station in the capital.

“Currently they are beating the military unit near the Beresteiska metro station,” the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine wrote on its Telegram account.

He added – citing the private television channel ICTV – that more than 50 shots were also heard and explosions were heard in the Shulyavka neighborhood and the zoo in just ten minutes.

19:49 Fighting is reported in the south of Kiev

The Ukrainian armed forces reported fighting in Vasilkov, a town about 18 kilometers south of Kiev.

“Heavy fighting is taking place in the city of Vasilkov, in the Kiev region, where the occupants are trying to land a landing party,” the Armed Forces command said on its official Facebook account.

 

19:00 Ukraine and Russia are discussing the place and time for talks, says Zelensky’s spokesman

Ukraine and Russia are discussing a time and place for talks, the president’s spokesman Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media on Friday. “ Ukraine was and remains ready to talk about a ceasefire and peace”, added spokesman Sergii Nykyforov.

 

18:00 Ukraine reports higher radiation in Chernobyl but not at a “critical” level

Ukraine‘s nuclear agency and the Interior Ministry said on Friday they were recording higher levels of radiation at the site of the Chernobyl atomic power plant, located about 100 kilometers from Kiev.

Experts from the state nuclear agency did not provide exact radiation levels but said the change was due to the movement of heavy military equipment in the area that kicked up radioactive dust  into the air

17:00 Mayor of Kiev says that the situation is “very dangerous” and the night will be “hard”

The mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschkó, ​​warned this Friday that, since the advance of Russian troops to the Ukrainian capital, the situation has become “very dangerous” and the night seems to be “hard”.

“The night and the first hours of the morning are going to be very hard. Russian troops are concentrated near Kiev, the forces of order and our army neutralize subversive groups”, said the alderman.

Klitschkó assured that the strategic infrastructures of the city are well protected and thanked the inhabitants of Kiev for enlisting in the territorial defense brigades.

The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, affirmed today that tonight will be difficult, predicting that Russia will try to attack Kiev, for which he asked the Army not to lose control of the capital.

“Tonight, on all fronts, the enemy will use all available forces to break our resistance: vile, cruel and inhuman. They will raid tonight,” he said.