Ukraine updates: Explosions rock Kyiv after relative calm
Published November 11, 2023last updated November 12, 2023
What you need to know
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Saturday that "strong explosions" were heard on the left bank of the Dnipro river in Ukraine. He added, citing preliminary information, that air defenses "worked against ballistic weapons."
There was no immediate information on casualties.
Meanwhile, Ukraine said its naval drones sank two Russian landing boats in Crimea, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet is headquartered in Sevastopol.
Here's a look at some of the headlines on Saturday, November 11, concerning Russia's war in Ukraine:
Ukraine marks anniversary of the liberation of Kherson
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked the anniversary of the expulsion of Russian soldiers from the city of Kherson, and commemorated the soldiers and civilians who helped to liberate the city.
"Our defense forces will certainly respond to the Russian army's strikes on Kherson and surrounding areas. This week has shown that we will get the occupiers both in the Black Sea and on the territory of Crimea and everywhere else," he said on Saturday evening.
Zelenskyy praised Kherson as a "city of hope" while condemning daily shelling by Russia.
Ukrainian forces retook city of Kherson from Russian forces eight months after Russia's invasion in February 2022. But parts of the wider Kherson region are still occupied by Russian troops.
Ukraine says it sank 2 Russian boats in Crimea
Ukraine said its naval drones sank two Russian landing boats in Crimea, where Russia's Black Sea Fleet is headquartered in Sevastopol.
Ukraine's military intelligence said that the two small amphibious Russian boats, an Akula class vessel and a Serna class, were hit overnight. The news could not be independently verified and there was no immediate comment from Moscow.
"As a consequence of the attack, both vessels went to the bottom, the Akula straight away and the Serna after attempts to save it," according to the intelligence report.
The Ukrainian military said the vessels were crewed, and loaded with armored vehicles.
Ukraine says it downed two-thirds of overnight attack drones
Ukraine said it downed 19 of the 31 attack drones that Russia launched into its territory overnight, mostly focused on front-line areas.
"Nineteen enemy Shahed-136/131 attack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were destroyed. The Russian occupants sent most of the attack UAVs to the front-line areas," the air force said, adding that Russia also used several missiles.
The drones downed represent two-thirds of those used for the attacks.
Ukraine reported late on Friday a new wave of Russian drone attacks, with air defenses active around the capital Kyiv late on Friday evening.
Explosions reported in Kyiv on Dnipro left bank
On Saturday morning, two strong explosions were heard in the center of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, where attacks have not been reported since late September.
"Strong explosions were heard on the [Dnipro river] left bank of the capital. According to preliminary information, the air defenses worked against ballistic weapons," Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on the messaging platform Telegram.
There was no immediate information on casualties.
French news agency AFP journalists said they saw trails in the sky, as well as hearing the blasts.
"Preliminary, air defense was working against ballistic [missiles]," Klitschko said.
Air alerts were announced in Kyiv and a nearby region minutes before the explosions. City authorities urged residents to stay in shelters.
rmt/fb (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)