Ukraine’s capital city was rocked by two powerful explosions before dawn on Tuesday (March 15) as three European prime ministers rode a train for Kyiv, the first visit by foreign leaders to the Ukrainian capital since Russia launched its invasion, and a striking symbol of Ukraine’s success so far in fending off Russia’s assault. Louisa Naks reports

Kyiv awoke to the sound of air raid sirens on Tuesday (March 15) as two powerful explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital before dawn, with the mayor announcing a 35-hour curfew to start Tuesday evening.

That as the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia made their way to the city by train to show support for the country on behalf of the EU – the first foreign leaders to visit Kyiv since Russia invaded last month.

Firefighters tried to douse the flames and rescue workers helped to evacuate residents trapped in a building that had been struck.

Emergency services said at least two people died after an apartment building was hit. It was not immediately clear if it was the same block.

This man says he was awoken by the sound of a blast.

“My belongings were ready to go. I planned how I’d go to bed – I placed a big armchair opposite my head, put some staff in it and a couple of barbell weight plates on top. So, in case there would be debris I would have an armchair with some metal objects on top behind my head. Perhaps that’s what saved me because all the windows were blown out and the debris flew right into my apartment but I was left practically unharmed, with just a few scratches.”

In another part of the city, Reuters witnesses saw residents clearing debris from their homes after shelling blew out windows, ruined balconies and left wreckage strewn across the ground.

Kyiv has been spared the worst of the fighting so far, but the Russian military is slowly closing in on the city and shelling has intensified.

Ukraine hopes to open nine corridors on Tuesday to evacuate civilians and deliver humanitarian aid to those trapped by Russian forces.

This includes to the besieged city of Mariupol, which has been under constant bombardment, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents sheltering without water or power for almost a week.

This drone footage said to be from Mariupol was released on Monday by AZOV – a former right wing paramilitary which is now part of Ukraine’s National Guard. The configuration of the buildings matches satellite photography.

Local authorities say anywhere between 2,300 and 20,000 civilians have been killed. Reuters cannot verify those figures.

Russia denies it is targeting civilians in what in what it calls a “special operation” to demilitarize and “denazify” Ukraine. 

Ukraine and its Western allies call that a baseless pretext for a war of choice.

Further talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiators are expected on Tuesday after discussions on Monday via video ended with no new progress announced.

Reuters