Five explosions were heard tonight in Kiev, the night will be very heavy

Reuters reports that artillery shells were heard, along with intense gunfire in the western part of the capital.

Reporters on the world’s major TV stations in the city say curfews are empty and, in addition to occasional explosions in the distance, sirens are sounded, prompting residents to take refuge.

The mayor of Kiev, former heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, said tonight that at least five explosions had been heard in the capital, some near a power plant in the north of the city.

“Emergency services are checking. “We are waiting for the details.”

said Klitschko.

Describing the situation in the city, he said that “without exaggeration – it is threatening Kiev”, adding that the night would be “very difficult”.

The Reuters news agency reported that artillery explosions were heard, along with intense gunfire in the western areas of the capital, after which sirens sounded.

Reporters on the world’s major TV stations in the city say curfews are empty and, in addition to occasional explosions in the distance, sirens are sounded and residents go into hiding.

Videos from earlier today showed armored vehicles advancing through the northern part of the city.

Ukraine says 18,000 automatic rifles have been distributed to volunteers.

Reporters report that men in tracksuits and jeans with rifles over their backs are at checkpoints and hidden in bushes along the road, while young volunteers lie on the ground behind anti-tank weapons.

Reportedly, men between the ages of 18 and 60, who could be recruited, are now barred from crossing the border.

A US defense official had previously said that Russian forces had lost momentum in their invasion of Ukraine.

According to the Reuters news agency, the official said that so far no Ukrainian population center has been captured, but some Russian missiles have hit residential areas.