Air defence activated in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, explosions rock capital

Air defence forces are operating in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, repelling an attack from Russian drones.

Sources: Oleksii Kuleba, Head of Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram; Ukrainska Pravda; Kyiv City Military Administration on Telegram

Quote from Kuleba: "Kyiv Oblast: air defence is in operation. 

Stay in shelters and safe places. 

Do not take photos and post images online of soldiers or air defence systems in operation in any way."

Details: Kuleba has also reported that Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones were launched to attack Kyiv Oblast. 

Kyiv City Military Administration has confirmed that air defence forces have been activated in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast. 

Journalists from Ukrainska Pravda have also reported on the explosions in Kyiv, which were particularly heard in the centre of the capital. 

Updated at 01:15: Ukrainska Pravda journalists have said that explosions rocked Kyiv again, and air defence has been activated.

Updated at 02:20: Another two explosions have been heard in Kyiv. 

Updated at 03:20: The Head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration has stated that the Russians had launched several waves of Shahed drones and were trying to hit critical infrastructure facilities. 

Air defence forces continue to repel the night drone attack on the capital and its region.

Updated at 04:00: The all-clear has been sounded in Kyiv and Kyiv oblast. The air raid lasted more than four hours.

Background: Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration, said that two groups of Iranian-made UAVs had entered Ukraine on the evening of 1 January. At the same time, air-raid sirens were sounded in many oblasts.

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