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The mayor of Kyiv has reported multiple explosions in the Ukrainian capital for the first time in weeks.
In a post on Telegram, Vitali Klitschko wrote that there was an explosion in the center of the capital, where many government institutions and buildings are located.
He said a municipal team was in place and more details were expected.
The blasts reportedly came as Ukraine faced a barrage of Russian airstrikes across the country in recent weeks, mainly targeting infrastructure, and as fighting continued on the eastern and southern fronts.
It was not immediately clear what the target was, or whether it was a civilian, administrative or military site.
The United States is ready to approve the dispatch of Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine, a U.S. official said Tuesday, agreeing to an urgent request from Ukrainian leaders who desperately need more powerful weapons to shoot down incoming Russian missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently pressed Western leaders on Monday to provide more advanced weapons to help his country fight Russia.
The Patriot will be the most advanced surface-to-air missile system Western has provided to Ukraine to help repel Russian airstrikes in the interstate war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.
U.S. officials also said last week that Moscow had been hoping Iran would resupply Russian forces with drones and surface-to-surface missiles.
Ukrainian authorities said more than 60 of 70 strikes were intercepted by air defense systems in the latest round of airstrikes on Dec. 5.
Mr Klitschko said Ukrainian forces shot down 10 self-destructing drones over Kyiv and the region on Wednesday.
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